Islamabad, 20 May 2024, (GNP): Imran Khan, the founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), along with other party leaders, were cleared of charges in two cases related to the vandalism during the long march, as decided by a district and sessions court on Monday.
Additionally, PTI leaders who were cleared of charges in these cases comprised Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Asad Umar, Shireen Mazari, Zartaj Gul, Ali Nawaz Awan, Faisal Javed, Qasim Suri, Raja Khurram Nawaz, and Saifullah Niazi.
Sheikh Rashid Ahmad, the chief of Awami Muslim League, was also granted acquittal by the court. The cases against Khan and other politicians were filed at the Kohsar and Karachi Company police stations for breaching Section 144, and the verdict was delivered during the hearing of their acquittal pleas.
Judicial Magistrate Shahzad Khan issued the verdict on the acquittal of Khan, Qureshi, Rashid, Awan, Suri, and Nawaz for the case registered at the Kohsar police station.
In the latest development, Judicial Magistrate Mureed Abbas delivered the reserved decision on the acquittal plea of Khan, Qureshi, Mazari, Niazi, Umar, Gul, Awan, Javed, and Nawaz concerning the case filed in the Karachi Company police station.
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The court had previously reserved its verdict in the long march vandalism case, and this announcement brings clarity to the legal proceedings.
Khan’s lawyer, Naeem Panjotha, speaking with journalists in the federal capital, emphasized that the cases against the PTI founder were motivated by political vendetta, highlighting the contentious nature of the legal battles.
“No evidence of vandalism found against PTI founder during the long march,” he said, adding that the Islamabad administration did not issue any notification to enforce Section 144 in the capital city.
The counsel further noted that multiple cases of similar nature have been registered against the PTI founder, and he has been acquitted in several instances related to the long march.
Additionally, the counsel highlighted that other political leaders have also been cleared of charges in the vandalism cases.
