Judicial magistrate announces reserved verdict; rejects request to produce ex-premier in court
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairperson Imran Khan surrounded by party leaders during the ‘Haqeeqi Azadi’ march.—MM file photo
ISLAMABAD: A judicial magistrate of Islamabad acquitted former premier Imran Khan in two long march vandalism cases on Tuesday. Judicial magistrate Shaista Kundi announced the verdict reserved earlier in the day. The court, however, rejected the request to produce the PTI founder in court.
During the hearing, Imran’s counsel Naeem Panjotha stated that all cases against the ex-premier were limited to the extent of intimation. He was booked in multiple similar cases in one day. The complainant in the case is an SHO and he does not have the authority to lodge a case. The case also does not include the statements of witnesses, he added. The judge inquired whether Imran had been acquitted in cases before, to which the counsel responded in the affirmative. The court then reserved the verdict to announce it later in the day.
The complaints against the former premier were registered at the Sahala and Lohi Bhair police stations. On May 27, 2022, the Islamabad police filed separate cases against 150 people including then PTI chairman Imran Khan, and other party leaders including Asad Umar, Asad Qaiser over allegations of arson and vandalism in the federal capital a day earlier. The footage of the Safe City cameras as well as those from private TV news channels were included in the challans of the cases as evidence. At least 39 people were taken into custody after identification from the footage.
Two FIRs were registered at Kohsar police station over the complaint of sub-inspector Asif Raza and sub-inspector Ghulam Sarwar under Sections 109 (abetment), 148 (rioting armed with deadly weapon), 149 (unlawful assembly), 186 (obstructing public service), 188 (disobedience), 353 (assault on public servant), 427 (causing damage) and 435 (mischief by fire or explosive substance with intent to cause damage) of the Pakistan Penal Code.
In May 2022, Imran launched a march toward Islamabad to topple the coalition government that assumed power after he was ousted as the premier following a vote of no confidence. The rally was part of the PTI’s struggle to achieve “real freedom” and deliver the nation from the “slavery” of the “US-backed” coalition government. Imran accused the coalition government of being an “imported government that came to power through a US-backed conspiracy”.
