Islamabad: Former Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi were on Saturday acquitted in the Iddat case by an Islamabad District and Sessions Court led by Judge Muhammad Afzal Majoka. The judge ordered that the two should be released immediately if they were not wanted in any other case, according to reports in most news outlets of Pakistan, including newspapers, TV channels and portals.
Majoka had earlier reserved his decision on the appeals against the sentences of Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi in the Iddat marriage case. A number of Pakistan Tehreek Insaaf (PTI), founed by Khan, had assembled outside the court premises and celebrations among them started as soon as the verdict was announced.
Imran and Bushra Bibi were sentenced in the case to seven years’ imprisonment a few days before the February 8 general elections in Pakistan. There were convictions in two more cases in the run-up to the elections. It was widely believed that the caretaker government headed by Anwarul Haq Kakar and Miltablishment was behind most convictions and cases against Imran.
PTI supporters allege that there is no substance in almost 200 cases that have been filed against Imran as these were “politically motivated’’. The cases were meant to weaken the party by hook or crook and denying it a level playing field in the elections. Of late, trials in different courts against Imran have led to acquittals or bail being given to him.
During hearing on Friday, Judge Majoka had remarked that the ideology about jurisprudence matters could not be challenged in the court. Earlier, during the hearing of the appeal, he had also remarked that under the Hanafi jurisprudence when divorce is pronounced three times, there would be no reproach, and hence no requirement for Iddat.
On June 27, an Islamabad court had rejected pleas seeking the suspension of sentences given to Imran and his wife in the Iddat (mandatory waiting period for Muslim women between two marriages) case. Incidentally, Imran had faced a barrage of cases, especially after May 9, 2023, when there were large scale protests in the country against his arrest. During these protests, some military establishments were targeted leading to ire of the Pakistan Army headed by General Asim Munir.
Imran has been granted bail in most cases, with the Toshakhana case sentences suspended and the acquittal in the cipher case. He remains incarcerated at Adiala jail solely in the Iddat case now after acquittals and bails in the legal cases he is facing. Once this case has also led to his acquittal, it will be very difficult to keep Imran behind bars on legal grounds.
Meanwhile, despite being acquitted in many cases, Imran Khan’s release from Adiala Jail remains uncertain. Technically a free man now, he may face new legal hurdles that could impede his immediate release.
According to Express News, Imran has been granted bail in 12 cases registered on May 9 in Rawalpindi. However, the jail administration has received release orders for only seven of these cases. Orders for the remaining five cases, including the one after acquittal in the cipher case, have not reached jail authorities.
In what could be considered a related matter, the Lahore police has now decided to arrest Imran in connection with three cases related to the May 9 incidents. The Rawalpindi Anti-Terrorism Court has authorized this arrest. Lahore police will interrogate Imran in jail regarding these three cases. Earlier, the Lahore Anti-Terrorism Court had rejected Imran’s bail requests in these cases.
This shows that the Punjab government headed by Maryam Nawaz, daughter of Nawaz Sharif, wants to keep Imran in jail for as long as possible. On June 16, Federal Planning and Development Minister Ahsan Iqbal had said that the government wants to keep Imran in jail for five years till the end of its term. He had said that this was needed for ensuring “economic stability’’ in Pakistan. If Imran Khan came out of jail, then there would be again sit-ins and fight and the country could not afford this, senior PML-N leader had said.
