(13 Jul 2024)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Islamabad – 13 July 2024
1. Various of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf supporters outside court complex, holding placards and chanting, UPSOUND (Urdu): “Release Imran Khan, release Bushra Bibi.”
2. Pan of supporters chanting, UPSOUND (Urdu): “Release prisoner number 804.”
3. Mid of supporters raise fists and chanting slogans, UPSOUND (Urdu): “We want freedom, we will snatch freedom.”
4. Wide of supporters celebrating
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Gohar Ali Khan, Barrister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairperson:
“Today is a wonderful day, finally we got the relief that we wanted. There was a baseless and useless case, it was a baseless case, there is no evidence at all. It is actually been filed against Imran Khan to challenge and question his credibility. Alhamdulillah (praise be to God), today the judiciary has actually decided this case in terms that we wanted it to be decided. It is a victory for justice, it is a victory for Pakistan, it is a victory for the rule of law, and it is a victory for the independence of the judiciary. We are so happy, this is the final case, it got quashed, Bibi (referring to Imran Khan wife) got acquitted and, alhamdulillah (praise be to God), Bibi should be out soon. This was the final and last case that Khan Sahib (referring to Imran Khan) was inside jail for because of this case. Now, this having gone and having been quashed and he having been acquitted of all charges, Khan Sahib should also be out soon."
6. Various of supporters celebrating
7. SOUNDBITE (English) Nadia Khattak, supporter:
“Today the judgment proves that, yes, Pakistan is now coming up with a very, very good change and obeying the law. I am so happy because I always take care of Imran Khan and Bushra Imran."
8. Various of supporters celebrating
STORYLINE:
Supporters of former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan and his wife were celebrating on Saturday after a Pakistani court overturned the convictions and seven-year sentences imposed on them, but officials quickly moved to prevent his release from prison.
The acquittal in a case relating to the legality of the couple’s 2018 marriage seemed to have removed the last hurdle in the way of Khan’s release, nearly a year after he was jailed, and his followers had started gathering near the prison where he was being held in the garrison city of Rawalpindi to greet him on his release.
But shortly after the court’s ruling, Khan was arrested yet again, in connection to riots last year, his party said.
It added that it believed Khan’s wife, Bushra Bibi, was also being arrested again, in a lingering corruption case.
Authorities have registered multiple cases against Khan since 2022 when he was ousted from power through a vote of no-confidence in the parliament.
Khan has been embroiled in more than 150 legal cases, including inciting violence, since his initial arrest in May 2023.
Earlier this month, the United Nations human rights working group called for Khan’s immediate release, saying he had been detained “arbitrarily in violation of international laws."
Saturday’s acquittal relates to Khan’s marriage to Bibi, his third wife.
She was previously married to a man who claimed that they divorced in November 2017, less than three months before she married Khan.
Islamic law, as upheld by Pakistan, requires a three-month waiting period before a new marriage.
Bibi had said they divorced in August 2017 and the couple insisted during the trial that they did not violate the waiting period.
The violence subsided only when Khan was released by the Supreme Court.
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