Imran Khan, former Prime Minister of Pakistan, encounters additional difficulties.In a series of devastating blows to the former Prime Minister of Pakistan, Imran Khan, and his wife, Bushra Khan, a court has sentenced the couple to seven years in prison, citing violations of the law in their 2018 marriage. This marks the third adverse ruling against Imran Khan this week, creating a tumultuous political landscape just days before national elections, from which he is already barred.
Imran Khan, 71, finds himself entangled in legal troubles as he was recently sentenced to 10 years for leaking state secrets and an additional 14 years, along with his wife, for the alleged illegal sale of state gifts. The court imposed fines of 500,000 rupees ($1,800) on each of them, according to ARY News.
The charges against Bushra Khan specifically relate to the failure to complete the waiting period mandated by Islamic law, known as “Iddat,” after divorcing her previous husband and marrying Imran Khan. The controversy surrounding their marriage, which took place in a secret ceremony in January 2018, just seven months before Imran Khan assumed the role of Prime Minister, has been a focal point of legal scrutiny.
While both Imran and Bushra Khan have consistently denied any wrongdoing, the court’s rulings have intensified the political turmoil surrounding the charismatic former cricket superstar. Imran Khan is currently incarcerated in Rawalpindi, while his wife has been allowed to serve her sentence at their hilltop mansion in Islamabad.
With a 10-year disqualification from holding public office already looming over Imran Khan, the question of whether the sentences will run concurrently or sequentially adds another layer of uncertainty to his political future. As the nation awaits the outcome of these legal battles, the upcoming elections are set against a backdrop of unprecedented challenges for Pakistan’s once-celebrated leader.
