A Pakistani court acquitted former Prime Minister Imran Khan in two cases related to the May 9 violence, citing insufficient evidence against him. Khan, the founder of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, had been accused of inciting his supporters to vandalize public property and sensitive army installations following his arrest in an alleged corruption case.
The decision was made by Judicial Magistrate Umar Shabbir of the District and Sessions Court of Islamabad. In the verdict, the court stated, “Because of insufficient evidence presented by the prosecution, the PTI founder has been acquitted.” Khan, 71, was previously acquitted in two other cases linked to the May 9 vandalism by Judicial Magistrate Sahib Bilal, who approved his plea challenging the cases filed in Khanna police station in Islamabad.
Khan, currently held in the high-security Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi, and several PTI leaders face various allegations related to the violence following his May 9 arrest. His supporters had vandalized military installations, including the Jinnah House in Lahore, Mianwali Airbase, and the ISI building in Faisalabad. For the first time, the Army headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi was also attacked.
Khan’s acquittal underscores the ongoing political turmoil in Pakistan, as his party continues to face significant legal challenges and scrutiny from authorities.
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