PTI called the arrests “a ploy to prolong their illegal imprisonment.”
On February 3, just days before the February 8 general elections, a court in Islamabad convicted the couple based on a complaint filed by Bushra Bibi’s ex-husband, Khawar Fareed Maneka, who had alleged that he and Bibi were married during the former first lady’s ‘iddah period.
The couple had challenged the verdict in a local court in the capital, Islamabad, where Additional District Judge (ADSJ) Afzal Majoka was hearing the case.
“PTI founders Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi should be released if they are not wanted in any other case. [from jail] Immediately,” the judge said after allowing the appeal.
It was not clear whether he would be released. But this was the only case for which Khan was incarcerated after his sentence in the Tosha Khan corruption case was suspended and he was acquitted in the crypto case.
The cricketer-turned-politician has been in jail since August last year after being convicted in the Toshakhana corruption case and subsequently in other cases ahead of the February 8 elections.
Bibi’s ex-husband Maneka filed a lawsuit against the couple in November 2023, alleging that the couple got married without Bibi observing the mandatory waiting period for Iddat. Maneka asked the court to annul the marriage.
Khan and Bibi married in 2018, the same year Khan won elections and became prime minister.
Bibi was ostensibly her husband’s spiritual director, but the two developed a mutual affection for each other as they met. She divorced her husband after 28 years of marriage, with whom she had five children.
She is the third wife of Khan, a former cricketing hero who was known as a playboy during his sporting heyday.
PTI leader Gohar Khan welcomed the verdict, calling it a victory for an independent judiciary. “All these cases are fake and justice will be served in all other cases as well,” he said, arguing that this was the last case in which Imran Khan was convicted and therefore should be released.
The verdict in the case came a day after the Supreme Court declared Khan’s embattled Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party entitled to reserved seats in national and provincial assemblies following the contentious February 8 general election, winning a major legal battle.
Pakistan’s Supreme Court ruled on Friday that the party is eligible to win more than 20 seats in parliament reserved for women and minorities.
But in a new blow, Khan’s party said in a statement that he had been arrested in three more cases.
The incident came to light barely an hour after he was acquitted in the Idat case, the last case in which he was convicted and jailed.
“Khan has been arrested in three more cases,” PTI reported, adding that “the Lahore Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) has approved the request to arrest Imran Khan in the May 9 case and has decided to interrogate him in jail in the three May 9 cases.”
The party termed the arrest as a ploy. “This is yet another ploy to prolong illegal detention. While police in Islamabad, Faisalabad and other areas have approved bail in the May 9 case, Lahore police instead of delivering justice has decided to bow to the centres of power,” it said.
The party also said it is imperative to mention that the charges against him in the May 9 incident are based primarily on speculation and testimony of police officers who allege that he was present at a meeting where he was allegedly planning to instigate violence across the county.
