Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi receive 7-year jail term; Marriage ruled 'Un-Islamic'

In a significant development, former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi have been sentenced to seven years in jail by a Pakistani court, which declared their marriage 'un-Islamic.' The verdict was delivered after a lengthy 14-hour hearing in Rawalpindi's Adiala jail, where Imran Khan has been held since September 2023 due to multiple legal cases. The case was filed by Khawar Maneka, Bushra Bibi's first husband, alleging a violation of Islamic practices regarding the mandatory break or Iddat between two marriages.

During the court proceedings, there was a heated argument between Imran Khan and his ex-wife Maneka, prompting the judge to intervene and instruct both parties to cease the confrontation. The court, rejecting the defense's plea for additional witnesses, concluded the trial after the exhaustive hearing. Notably, during the hearing on Thursday, Imran Khan and Maneka traded allegations against each other, with Khan even expressing readiness to take an oath on the Holy Quran to prove his statements. However, the judge advised against it, cautioning that it might result in losing the right to argue.