Imran and Bushra were found guilty of “unlawful” marriage and given a seven-year prison sentence

In the ‘un-Islamic’ marriage case, the court on Saturday condemned former prime minister Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, to seven years in prison apiece. The ex-premier and his spouse were also fined Rs 0.5 million apiece.

Over the past five days, the PTI leader has been sentenced three times. In the Cypher case, the former premier was earlier this week sentenced to 10 years in prison; in the Toshakhana case, the penalty was for 14 years.

Following a lengthy 14-hour hearing that ended on Friday night, the court reserved its decision in the “un-Islamic” marriage issue last night.

The hearing was held in the Adiala jail premises in Rawalpindi, under the direction of Senior Civil Judge Qudratullah of Islamabad.

Bushra Bibi’s first husband, Khawar Maneka, filed the lawsuit, claiming that Bushra had disregarded the Islamic custom of keeping the required gap between marriages, or Iddat. Maneka also charged Khan and his ex-wife of having an extramarital affair before to their marriage.

The four prosecution witnesses—Maneka, Aun Chaudhry, Nikah Khawan Mufti Saeed, and Maneka’s employee Latif—had previously finished their cross-examination. Advocates Salman Akram Raja for Imran and Osman Riaz Gul for Bushra led the defense team.

In their joint statement of 342, Khan and Bushra responded to 13 questions. Bushra claimed in her statement that she received a verbal triple talaq from Maneka in April 2017 and that she completed the required iddat time from April to August 2017. She also proclaimed the divorce document dated November 14, 2017, to be falsified.

The defense’s request for more witnesses to be called was denied by the court. Additionally, jurisdictional pleas under Section 179 and an acquittal plea under Section 249-A were denied.

In the February 1 hearing, Maneka leveled severe charges against Imran, alleging that the PTI founder had ruined his family and that the illegal relationship had started during the 2014 sit-in. Maneka was challenged by Imran to swear an oath based on the Holy Quran.

In an interview with reporters, Maneka also discussed the effects on his family, saying that the supposed affair had caused one daughter to file for divorce and one son to check himself into a rehabilitation facility.

Speaking for the first time in Adiala Jail, Bushra Bibi presented herself as the target of a scheme to degrade her. She declared that she would not give in to pressure, described the claims as an effort to discredit Imran and the PTI, and emphasized her will to remain steadfast.

PTI Chairman Barrister Gauhar Khan addressed the media following the verdict’s release, calling the trial “shameful” given the highly private nature of the accusations.

Sarcastically, the leader of the party said that the verdict was to be expected.

He stated that the party intends to petition the high court to overturn the case’s verdict. None of the recent judgements against Imran, according to the PTI chairman, will stand up in court.

Gauhar remarked, “I told the judge that this was not expected of you,” and that the court was being utilized for political ends.

Speaking to party members via the media, Gauhar said that Imran has once more asked his followers to maintain composure and harmony.

“I refuse to negotiate, even if it means spending a millennium behind bars. Gohar cited the PTI founder as saying, “Show your support on February 8 and come out and vote.”