Imran Khan re-arrested shortly after court nullified 7-year sentence
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The former Pakistan prime minister's political party PTI says that his wife Bushra Bibi might also face re-arrest related to an ongoing corruption investigation.
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Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party activists and supporters protest the arrest of former Prime Minister Imran Khan in Karachi, Pakistan, on August 27, 2023. (AFP)
On Saturday, a Pakistani court nullified the convictions and seven-year prison sentences of former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his wife, suggesting that he might be released after almost a year in prison.
This decision led to Khan's supporters gathering near the Rawalpindi prison where he was held, expecting his imminent release.
However, despite the court's ruling, he was swiftly re-arrested due to his alleged involvement in riots from the previous year. Additionally, his political party indicated that his wife, Bushra Bibi, might also face re-arrest related to an ongoing corruption investigation.
Since being ousted from power through a vote of no-confidence in 2022, the former Prime Minister has faced numerous legal challenges.
Authorities have registered over 150 cases against him, including charges of inciting violence, and his troubles only intensified after his arrest in May 2023.
Earlier this month, the United Nations human rights working group called for his immediate release, declaring that his detention was “arbitrarily in violation of international laws.”
The latest development in Khan's legal battles was his acquittal on Saturday. This particular case involved the legality of his marriage to his third wife, Bushra Bibi.
According to Islamic law, which Pakistan upholds, a woman must wait three months after a divorce before remarrying.
Bushra Bibi's ex-husband claimed they divorced in November 2017, which was less than three months before her marriage to Khan in early 2018. The court's acquittal indicates that this issue has now been resolved in Khan's favor.
Re-arrest
After Khan's arrest in May last year, his supporters launched intense protests, targeting military and government buildings throughout Pakistan.
The mass riots continued until the Supreme Court ordered Khan's release, which temporarily calmed the situation.
However, in August, Khan faced legal troubles again. A court sentenced him to three years in prison on corruption charges, leading to his re-arrest.
In the past few months, Khan has been acquitted of several charges related to violent incidents that occurred last year. Despite these acquittals, his bail was recently revoked in a specific case pending in Lahore, leading to renewed legal challenges.
Khan’s political party, Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), announced plans to appeal to higher courts to reinstate his bail.
'Robbed of our fight'
Pakistan's Supreme Court declared on Friday that Khan's party was eligible for at least 20 more seats in parliament, reserved for minorities according to the country's system, increasing pressure on the country's fragile coalition government.
PTI chairman Gohar Khan stated that "we were robbed of our right," adding that the party that some wished to see eliminated was brought back to life.
According to Ahmed Bilal Mehboob, head of the Pakistan Institute of Legislative Development and Transparency think tank, the sentence essentially denies the ruling coalition its desired two-thirds majority.
"It will boost the morale of PTI workers and they may be in a better position to launch a movement if the party so decides," according to him
