MM News

A trial court on Saturday sentenced former prime minister Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi to 7 years each in prison in the illegal nikkah case.

The court had reserved its verdict in the case on Friday night.

The verdict was pronounced by Senior Civil Judge Qudratullah in Adiala Jail today, a day after the hearing of the case was conducted inside the jail premises for 14 hours.

Both accused have also been fined Rs500,000 each.

The decision was announced in Adiala Jail where Imran Khan is already serving a sentence in both Toshakhana and cipher cases. Both the accused were present when the judge announced the verdict.

The judge issued the court’s verdict in the case about the plea filed by Bushra Bibi’s ex-husband Khawar Maneka against what he refers to as an un-Islamic and illegal nikah with the former prime minister.

Maneka, in his petition, had termed Bushra and Khan’s nikkah “fraudulent” contending that the marriage was solemnized during her iddat — following her divorce from him.

“That above said nikah and the marriage ceremony was neither legal nor Islamic as it was solemnized without observing the iddah period,” read the petition.

He also accused the former prime minister of ruining his entire life with the petition stating that the PTI top leader “stigmatized the complainant and his family just to achieve his unethical and immoral objects through intrusion in the complainant’s peaceful marital life”.

“In light of the above, it is humbly prayed that respondents No.1 [Imran Khan] and 2 [Bushra Bibi] be summoned and punished strictly per law in the interest of justice,” Maneka prayed to the court.