In Pakistan, former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his wife received a seven-year prison sentence on Saturday for violating marriage laws in 2018. This decision, amidst national elections, marked Khan’s third conviction of the week and fourth since his removal from power through a parliamentary vote of no-confidence in April 2022.
The verdict was announced by a judge following a hearing within a high-security prison near Islamabad, where Khan is currently held. Additionally, the court imposed a $1,800 fine on both the 71-year-old former Pakistani leader and his wife, Bushra Bibi.
The judgment stated that the complainant successfully demonstrated that the respondents engaged in an unlawful marriage ceremony with dishonest and fraudulent intent. Bibi was accused of not completing the Islamic-mandated waiting period, known as “iddat,” after divorcing her previous husband and marrying Khan in 2018, just months before he became prime minister. The criminal complaint was brought forth by her son from her previous marriage.
Despite rejecting the charges as baseless and politically motivated, Bibi, the former first lady, faced the conviction. Khan’s political party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), deemed the conviction “ridiculous” and part of the ongoing political persecution against their leader.
The PTI criticized the rushed court hearings, lack of witness cross-examination, and absence of due process, emphasizing the impact on the upcoming February 8 elections. Legal experts and independent analysts denounced the ruling, with Reema Omer, a legal adviser at the International Commission of Jurists, describing it as a “shameful travesty of justice” and a blow to women’s rights.
Michael Kugelman, director at Wilson Center’s South Asia Institute, suggested that the convictions against Khan could bolster his party’s standing in the polls, considering a potential political ploy by the military to influence religious constituencies. Other analysts cautioned against the personalization of politics in Pakistan, highlighting the potential long-term harm.
Earlier in the week, Khan faced separate sentences of 10 years for leaking state secrets and 14 years, along with his wife, for retaining and selling state gifts. Khan, denying any wrongdoing, accused the military of colluding with the United States to dislodge him from power.
Despite facing multiple convictions and a crackdown on his party, recent polls indicate Khan remains popular in Pakistan, with the PTI being the most significant national political party.
