Imran Khan to remain in jail despite acquittal in marriage case
Former Premier Imran Khan and his third wife were acquitted by a Pakistan court on Saturday of charges related to unlawful marriage. However, Khan will not be released, as authorities have issued new orders for his arrest.
This ruling came just a day after Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party secured more seats in parliament, increasing pressure on the country's fragile ruling coalition, which is struggling to stabilize a broken economy.
The couple had been sentenced to seven years in February after being found guilty of breaking Islamic law by not observing the required interval between Bushra Khan's (also known as Bushra Bibi) previous divorce and her marriage to Khan. They had appealed their convictions.
'Both the appellants are acquitted of the charges,' the appeal court's order stated. 'They are directed to be released forthwith if not required to be detained in any other case.'
The court noted that the prosecution failed to prove its case against the couple.
Despite the acquittal, Khan faces fresh arrest warrants in three cases related to violence against the military and other state installations following his brief arrest in May 2023. Last week, an anti-terrorism court canceled his bail in one of the cases from May 9, involving him and thousands of his supporters.
Imran Khan's PTI party criticized the new arrest warrants as a "gimmick" aimed at prolonging his imprisonment.
.png "Advertisement")
