Imran Khan’s party challenges seven-year jail sentence in marriage verdict case

This is Imran Khan’s fourth conviction since 2022 (File)

Islamabad:

The party said on Saturday that former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi’s seven-year prison sentences in the “un-Islamic Nika” case will be challenged in the High Court, claiming voters will “defend them” for their actions. revenge”. On February 8, he was treated unfairly.

Senior Civil Judge Qudratullah sentenced Mr Khan, 71, and Bushra Biwi, 49, and fined the couple 500,000 rupees each at Adiala Prison in Rawalpindi.

It is Mr Khan’s fourth conviction since 2022, adding to his troubles as the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party founder finds himself in trouble ahead of the February 8 vote.

Ahead of next week’s general election, Mr Khan’s party was stripped of its iconic electoral symbol of the cricket bat, his and his party colleagues’ nomination papers were rejected and at least one of his party leaders was killed at the polls – — related violence.

On Saturday, following his conviction in the case known as the Idat case, Mr Khan told court reporters that the case against him was an attempt to “humiliate and humiliate” him and his wife, Bushra Bibi.

Khan said he had neither accepted nor would he accept any deal with those in power, adding that he “chose death over making a deal with anyone.”

“After the election calendar was announced, the top leadership of our party was targeted. Now, election candidates are not even allowed to campaign,” he said in a brief conversation with court reporters.

Soon after the verdict, PTI supremo Gohar Khan said Justice Kudratulla was yet to issue a written judgment and “once issued, it will be challenged in the high court”. “This is yet another effort to prevent the party from participating in the election,” he said.

A post on the party’s official account showed Gohar Khan addressing the media, saying: “Imran Khan’s message to the nation is: If I have to stay here for a thousand years, I will stay Come down, under no circumstances will I make a deal – the state should come out and pay its dues on February 8. There is no exit from the station.”

PTI’s official X account also posted a detailed reaction almost immediately after the verdict was announced. “The people will avenge every injustice done to the brave leader of the country and every injustice done to him on February 8,” the X post quoted a PTI spokesperson as saying.

A post on the PTI It also blamed Judge Kudratulla and claimed that state interference in matters such as marriage and divorce was “evidence of wandering”. The party also claimed that “by passing the verdict in the Idat marriage case, after frivolous cases like Code and Toshakana, he (the judge) tried to advance a nefarious agenda of political revenge.” The party A social media campaign has also been launched using an Urdu hashtag, similar to #People_will_make_the_decision_now, and calling on people to vote on February 8.

However, there is only a very small, cryptic message on Mr. Khan’s own official X account. Judging from the previous examples, it is believed that his family members sent the message for him.

The post, which was accompanied by a 2:45 minute video praising Mr. Khan’s humanitarian work and how he refuses to bow to anyone but Allah, is translated as follows: “What could be more disrespectful than someone who has dedicated his life to it? What about just things?” His country imprisoned him for his righteous crimes. You all have until February 8, 2024 to accept this. “

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)