Former Prime Minister Imran Khan, along with senior Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders Sheikh Rashid and Shah Mehmood Qureshi, were acquitted by a local court in Islamabad on Thursday. Judicial Magistrate Malik Muhammad Imran delivered the verdict, clearing the leaders of charges related to the Azadi March. The court also acquitted Sadaqat Abbasi and Ali Nawaz Awan of all charges.
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The case, initiated in 2022 at Islamabad’s I-9 police station, accused PTI leaders of violating Section 144 and participating in acts of vandalism. The verdict also extended to PTI leader Shehryar Khan Afridi and several party workers, who were charged with arson and vandalism during the events of May 9. This decision marks a pivotal shift in the judicial proceedings against PTI members.
Legal Proceedings and Acquittals
The court hearings, presided over by Judicial Magistrate Ehtesham Alam, addressed the charges against PTI leadership for vandalism and violating Section 144. PTI leaders Ali Muhammad Khan and Asad Umar appeared in court, while other leaders filed acquittal pleas. The court’s ruling brought relief to PTI leaders facing multiple cases.
In a related but separate case, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) also acquitted Imran Khan and Shah Mehmood Qureshi in the cipher case earlier this year. IHC Chief Justice Aamir Farooq and Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb announced the verdict, overturning the previous conviction that sentenced them to 10 years in prison.
The acquittal of PTI leaders, including key figures like Imran Khan and Shah Mehmood Qureshi, represents a major relief for the former ruling party. The court’s decision to dismiss charges of arson, vandalism, and violation of Section 144 indicates a significant turn in the judicial evaluations PTI members have been facing.