Imran Khan and wife charged with violating Islamic law in politically motivated move

Imran Khan, the former Prime Minister of Pakistan, and his wife Bushra Bibi have been formally charged with violating Islamic law by remarrying within three months of Bibi's previous divorce. Khan's lawyer, Intisar Panjutha, has refuted the charge, calling it a politically motivated attempt to impede Khan's participation in Pakistan's upcoming general elections. Bibi, a spiritual healer, was previously married to Khawar Maneka, who claims the divorce occurred in November 2017, while Bibi asserts it was in August of that year.

Despite this, both Khan and Bibi deny violating the three-month waiting period before their own marriage in January 2018. Khan pleaded not guilty when charges were read out to him at Adiala prison in Rawalpindi, while Bibi was not present at the time of the indictment, although she has previously denied the charge. Panjutha has made it clear that Khan is facing numerous politically motivated charges in order to keep him out of the electoral race, despite the fact that the people of Pakistan seem to support him. Khan has been ousted from power and is currently serving a prison term in a graft case. He has also been involved in over 150 cases, including inciting people to violence after his arrest in May 2023.

The situation escalated when Khan's supporters from his political party attacked military headquarters and other locations during nationwide riots in May. The violence only ceased when Khan was released by the Supreme Court at that time. In another development, one of Khan's allies, Sheikh Rashid Ahmed, was arrested on Tuesday on charges of inciting violence in the city of Rawalpindi in May. Ahmed had previously served as the interior minister in Khan's government until his ouster. The charges against Khan and Bibi continue to draw attention and controversy as the former Prime Minister remains entangled in a web of legal and political challenges in Pakistan.