PTI chairman Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi have been acquitted in the Iddat case. The court ordered their immediate release if they are not wanted in other cases.
This decision brought joy to PTI supporters who had gathered outside the court, turning their planned rallies into celebrations.
The Iddat case had stirred significant controversy and condemnation from civil rights activists and legal experts. Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi were initially sentenced just days before the February 8 general elections, raising questions about the timing and motivations behind the conviction.
Earlier today, Judge Muhammad Afzal Majoka of the Islamabad district and sessions court had reserved the decision on their appeals. During the hearings, Judge Majoka remarked that Hanafi jurisprudence does not require Iddat when divorce is pronounced three times, which influenced the acquittal decision.
Since May 9, 2023, Imran Khan has faced numerous legal challenges, though he has been granted bail in many cases, including the Toshakhana and cipher cases. Despite these bail grants, he remained incarcerated at Adiala jail due to the Iddat case until this recent acquittal.
The court’s decision marks a significant shift in the legal battles surrounding the PTI leader, offering a reprieve amid his extensive legal troubles.