Imran Khan, former Prime Minister of Pakistan, and his wife, Bushra Bibi, have been sentenced to seven years in jail for their declared illegal marriage, marking the latest legal blow against the

once-prominent political figure. The court ruled that their 2018 union was un-Islamic, responding to a complaint filed by Bibi's ex-husband, who deemed the marriage fraudulent.

Khan, already serving time for corruption charges, faced this new case within the confines of Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi. The court determined that Bibi had remarried before the mandatory waiting period following her divorce, a violation under Muslim family law.

In addition to the seven-year prison term, a fine of 500,000 rupees ($1,800; £1,420) was imposed on Khan and Bibi. Their marriage in 2018 preceded Khan's election as prime minister.

This legal setback adds to Khan's recent challenges, as he was convicted a week before a general election for profiting from state gifts. Khan, 71, contends that the cases against him are politically motivated, and his party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), decries the trials as conducted by "kangaroo courts."

Khan's tumultuous personal life, including three marriages, has been a subject of public interest. His first marriage to British socialite Jemima Goldsmith lasted nine years, and his second marriage to journalist Reham Khan ended in less than a year.

The recent wave of legal issues raises questions about the credibility of the upcoming election, with Khan and his party facing marginalization. Despite authorities denying a crackdown, many PTI leaders are either incarcerated or have defected, fueling concerns about the fairness of the electoral process. As Khan grapples with multiple legal battles, the political landscape in Pakistan is shifting, with Nawaz Sharif emerging as a favored candidate, backed by the powerful military establishment. Photo by World Economic Forum, Wikimedia commons.