Imran Khan, Bushra Bibi's sentences in Iddat case likely to be 'suspended' today

A district and sessions court in Islamabad will announce the reserved verdict, today, on petitions of Pakistan Tehreeke-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi seeking suspension of sentences handed down to them in the Iddat case.

It is to be noted that in January, Khawar Maneka, Bushra's ex-husband, had challenged the couple's marriage and had termed their nikah as fraudulent.

Maneka, in the petition, claimed that the marriage was solemnised during Bushra Bibi's iddat (the time a woman goes into isolation after a divorce or her husband's death).

Later, Islamabad's local court sentenced the veteran politician and his spouse to jail for seven years in the un-Islamic Nikah case on February 4.

However, additional district and sessions judge (ADSJ) Afzal Majoka will announce the verdict today, likely in favour of the former prime minister and ex-first lady, according to sources.

The cricketer-turned-politician was serving his jail terms in the Toshakhana case, cipher case, £190 million corruption case and Iddat case.

His sentences were suspended by the courts in the Toshakhana, cipher and Al-Qadir Trust corruption cases.

If Mr Imran gets relief in the Iddat case, he will be freed from the jail, sources said.

On the other hand, Former Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Fawad Chaudhry alleged that the un-Islamic Nikkah case against the party founder and his wife was lodged at the behest of the establishment.

"Firstly, army should apologise to Imran Khan Sahab and Bushra Bibi on Iddat case," he said while talking to Voice of America.

However, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif-led government would try to keep Mr Imran behind bars as long as possible, according to Premier’s Adviser on Political and Public Affairs Rana Sanaullah.

It's pertinent to mention here that the cricket-turned-politician has been in jail since August last year.