Pakistan's jailed former premier, his wife indicted in unlawful marriage case

By Islamuddin Sajid

ISLAMABAD (AA) – Pakistan’s former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi were indicted in an unlawful marriage case on Tuesday.

A judge framed charges against Khan and held the hearing in Adiala jail where Khan’s wife did not attend the hearing due to health issues.

Khan rejected the charges, according to daily The Express Tribune.

Bushra Bibi’s former husband, Khawar Farid Maneka, recently filed a case against Khan and Bibi after almost six years and accused them of marrying without completing the iddat — a compulsory waiting period after divorce — and committing adultery.

Khan, who is currently incarcerated in Adiala jail, was arrested in August and many cases against him have been tried in prison.

Khan is already indicted in Toshakhana or state gifts reference, a state secret case known as cipher case, and a contempt case.

Last month, the Supreme Court of Pakistan granted him bail in the cipher case, declaring him "innocent." However, he was not released.

The former cricket star-turned-politician, who is facing a string of cases, was ousted through a no-trust vote in April 2022.

Last week, the country’s top court barred Khan's party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) candidates from using its iconic cricket bat electoral symbol while contesting the Feb. 8 elections.

The court ruled that the PTI was ineligible to retain the symbol due to its failure to conduct intraparty elections according to the country’s election laws.