Islamabad court rejects Imran and Bushra’s requests for suspension of sentence

A district court in Islamabad has rejected the request of Pakistan Movement for Justice (PTI) founder Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi for suspension of sentence in the Iddat case.

The PTI strongly condemned the verdict, calling it “absolutely ridiculous.” Its leaders, hoping for Imran’s release today, staged a demonstration outside Adiala Jail, where the court was housed, to ensure the ex-prime minister’s safety.

Additional Sessions Judge Afzal Majoka today delivered the judgment which was adjourned on Tuesday. The hearing on the main application seeking quashing of the conviction is scheduled for July 2.

The PTI founder and Bushra were sentenced to seven years in prison in February this year after a court declared their nikah fraudulent. Bushra’s ex-husband Khawar Maneka had petitioned the court to annul the couple’s marriage.

In its ten-page ruling, the court found that there was no reason for a suspended sentence.

“Both the petitioners have no basis for seeking suspension of their sentence. Therefore, both the applications filed under Section 426 Cr.PC are dismissed,” it said.

Reacting to the lower court’s verdict, PTI Secretary General Omar Ayub Khan said: “We will immediately challenge the verdict in the Supreme Court.”