The court has ordered the authorities concerned to immediately release Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi if they are not required in any other case.
ISLAMABAD: (UrduPoint/Pakistan Point News-July 13rd, 2024) In a significant development, a district and sessions court on Saturday acquitted Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi in Iddat case.
Additional Sessions Judge Muhammad Afzal Majoka delivered a short order after reserving judgment earlier in the day.
The couple had been sentenced to seven years in prison and fined Rs500,000 each earlier this year, following a trial that deemed their nikah fraudulent due to objections raised by Bushra's ex-husband, Khawar Maneka.
Imran Khan and Bushra challenged their conviction and had sought relief from the Islamabad High Court (IHC) as well.
The court's verdict stated that Khan and his wife should be released immediately if no other cases are pending against them. It rejected petitions for the formation of a medical board and consultations with religious scholars.
The ruling holds particular significance for Khan, who has been in custody since August last year, initially due to the Toshakhana case and subsequent legal battles leading up to the February 8 elections.
Despite recent relief in other cases, such as the £190 million reference and the cipher case, Khan remained detained due to the iddat case conviction. He has been granted bail in multiple cases filed on May 9 in Lahore, Rawalpindi, and Faisalabad.
The Islamabad High Court had directed the district court to expedite decisions on suspension of sentence and appeals challenging convictions, culminating in Judge Majoka's rejection of suspension pleas on June 27.
