A court on Saturday declared the marriage of Pakistan’s former Prime Minister Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi invalid in a non-Islamic ruling. The decision comes in response to a complaint filed by Bushra Bibi’s ex-husband, claiming that their marriage took place during the waiting period (iddat). Both Imran and Bushra Bibi have also been sentenced to seven years in prison in this case. This report explores the challenges faced by Imran, who is already in crisis just before the upcoming general elections.
Imran Khan, Bushra Bibi sentenced to 7 years imprisonment in the Iddat case. pic.twitter.com/LQXXsv4Gnr
— Hamza Azhar Salam (@HamzaAzhrSalam) February 3, 2024
Marriage in Islam is governed by Sharia law. According to Sharia, if a woman’s husband passes away or if the couple undergoes a divorce, the woman must wait for a certain period before entering into another marriage. This waiting period is known as ‘Iddat.’
Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi’s marriage was also examined by the officiating Qazi, Mufti Saeed, who stated that their union did not comply with Sharia law. According to the Qazi, the Islamic waiting period, known as Iddat, spans 4 months and 10 days.