A Pakistani court has acquitted former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his spouse on charges of illegal marriage. This decision came just after his party secured a majority of reservations for judges in the higher courts.
Syed Zulfi Bukhari, an advisor to Khan on international affairs and media communications, stated that "the court dismissed all accusations against Imran Khan and ordered the immediate release." He further explained there are no other cases pending to hold him in custody. The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party requested the unconditional discharge of Khan and his spouse, Bushra Bibi.
Writes Zulfi Bukhari: "There's not a single case against Imran Khan to keep him in jail."
Khan and Bibi were found guilty by a local court before February's general elections for violating religious laws and not following the necessary waiting period after Bibi's divorce prior to their marriage.
Bukhari noted that "Imran Khan was sentenced in several significant cases, including an illegal marriage conviction and another alleging leaks of confidential information." However, he has since been released from all these charges or granted bail.
Following the acquittal on the accusations of improper union, supporters of Imran Khan were rejoicing, hoping it would set the stage for his release. Nevertheless, shortly after the announcement of Khan's absolution, reports emerged stating that an anti-terrorism tribunal in Pakistan had issued summons and requested interviews related to events on May 9th, when violent protests erupted during Khan's arrest last year.
Bukhari remarked: "Suddenly we are being told that Imran Khan must be questioned about cases linked to the violence of May 9th, and his wife in a corruption case. This seems like an affront to justice, but these manufactured charges will not hold up in court."
Bukhari lamented: "The courts are freeing Imran Khan while the government and military establishment continue to fabricate cases against him in an attempt to detain him." He questioned why these allegations were not brought before the judiciary.
Khan has accused Pakistan's powerful military of harboring a personal vendetta against him, orchestrating his arrest. For much of its history, Pakistan has been governed by authoritarian regimes and the military maintains significant influence in political matters.
Former information minister Fawad Chaudhry, who previously served as an advisor to Khan, stated that Khan is imprisoned due to political maneuvering rather than criminal wrongdoing. He asserted: "Imran Khan's detention reflects a political vendetta against the nation's most popular politician."
Zahid Hussain, a political analyst and author, commented on the expected outcome of the case related to Khan and Bibi. "The court dismissal in the illegal marriage matter was predictable as it lacked legal merit," he said. "It is anticipated that another fabricated charge will be filed against Imran Khan shortly, but with an increasingly assertive judiciary and mounting pressure from various sectors of society, keeping him behind bars for an extended period may prove challenging."
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