An appeals court in Pakistan has taken a significant step in the legal proceedings involving former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi. The court suspended a 14-year prison sentence imposed on the couple in a corruption case.
However, despite this legal victory for Khan, they will not be released from custody as they are already serving sentences in other cases.
The Islamabad High Court, upon hearing an appeal from their lawyer, Zulfiqar Bukhari, who is also the spokesperson for Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, decided to suspend the sentence. The court ordered bail for the couple, but they will remain detained due to Bibi’s existing prison term in another case and Khan’s prior convictions.
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This development follows the recent guilty verdict against Khan and his wife for retaining and selling state gifts while he was in power, a charge they deny. Their lawyer, Ali Zafar, argued during the court hearing that they were denied a fair trial and were being politically targeted without evidence of wrongdoing.
The legal proceedings are set to continue later this month, indicating ongoing challenges for Khan and his wife. Despite facing multiple convictions, Khan maintains popularity in the country, as evidenced by PTI’s strong performance in recent parliamentary elections. However, PTI alleges electoral fraud despite not securing a majority in the National Assembly.
