Appeals Court Upholds Imran Khan's Marriage Sentence

An appeals court in Pakistan has upheld the seven-year prison sentences of former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi for contracting an unlawful marriage during Bibi's iddat period, which violates Islamic law. The decision has been met with strong condemnation from Khan's supporters and his political party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), who plan to challenge the verdict in the Islamabad High Court. The couple was originally convicted in February 2023, after Bibi's ex-husband, Khawar Maneka, claimed they violated the three-month waiting period required after a divorce. The case has sparked significant criticism from civil society and women's rights activists, who argue it infringes on personal privacy. The Islamabad High Court has instructed the sessions court to decide on the pleas challenging the convictions within ten days.