Pak court overturns Imran's illegal marriage conviction

A Pakistan court overturned ex-prime minister Imran Khan's conviction for illegal marriage on Saturday, his party said, though he remains jailed over allegations of inciting riots.

An Islamabad District and Sessions Court "dismissed charges" against Khan, a spokesman for his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party said, undoing the seven-year jail term Khan was handed just days before a February election, which he claims was rigged to prevent his comeback.

The verdict clears the last existing legal hurdle keeping Imran in jail as he has been acquitted by various courts in several other cases — including Toshakhana and cipher — filed against him since the events of May 9, 2023 — the day when his first arrest had caused riots across the country, following which the state had launched a crackdown against him and his party, PTI.

The couple was convicted in Iddat case on February 3 — days before the general elections — on a complaint filed by Bushra Bibi’s ex-husband, Khawar Fareed Maneka, who alleged that they contracted marriage during the former first lady’s Iddat period.

Senior civil judge Qudratullah had sentenced the ex-premier and his spouse to seven years in jail and imposed Rs 500,000 fine each — a decision that was widely criticised by civil society, women activists and lawyers. The verdict had coincided with the Toshakhana and cipher case sentences.

Source: Dawn, AFP