Former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi are arrested in a new Toshakhana reference today. National Accountability Bureau arrested the couple from Adiala jail.
NAB team under the directives of Deputy Director Mohsin Haroon reached the jail to arrest them. The couple is accused of buying state gifts at low prices and selling them at higher prices. After completing the formalities, the NAB team formally arrested them.
Earlier in the day, a district and sessions court on Saturday accepted appeals filed by former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Khan to suspend a ruling that they had violated the country’s marriage law and ordered their immediate release from prison, according to the ex-premier’s party.
The Khans were sentenced to seven years in prison and fined in February after a court ruled their 2018 marriage violated the law. Bushra was accused of not completing the mandated Islamic waiting period, or “Iddat,” after divorcing her previous husband before marrying Khan.
The couple signed their marriage contract, or “Nikkah,” in January 2018 in a secret ceremony, seven months before Khan became prime minister. Controversy arose over whether they wed before the Iddat period was complete. After initial denials, Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) confirmed the marriage weeks later. Both Khans deny any wrongdoing in the Iddat case.
Read more: Imran Khan, Bushra Bibi acquitted in Unlawful marriage case, court orders immediate release
“Additional Session Judge Afzal Majoka has dismissed charges against Mr. & Mrs. Khan in the Iddat case, ordering their release,” PTI said in a message to reporters. “So far, Mr. Khan has no case that could keep him in prison, unless there’s a concealed one which his legal team isn’t aware of.”
Pakistani local media widely reported the acquittal. Dawn newspaper reported Judge Majoka ordered that if they are not wanted in any other case, Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi should be released from jail immediately.’