ISLAMABAD: Former Prime Minister Imran Khan along with former lawmakers Asad Umar and Faisal Javed have been acquitted of charges stemming from a case involving protest and damage to property, among others.
The verdict was delivered by the Islamabad District and Sessions Court, bringing to a close the legal saga stemming from the events surrounding the PTI’s alleged long march on 25 May 2022.
The court proceedings, initiated by a complaint filed at the Tarnol police station, focused on an alleged violation of Section 144 of the regulations. Judicial Magistrate Muhammad Shabbir upheld the acquittals filed by the accused individually under Section 249-A of the Statute.
The decision said there would be no point in continuing the trial as the defendants could not be held liable under the circumstances.
Prominent figures acquitted in the case include PTI founder Imran Khan, Asad Umar, Raja Khurram, Shahzad Nawaz, Ali Nawaz Awan, Faisal Javed, Abid Hussain and Zaheer Khan. Importantly, individuals like Asad Umar, Ali Nawaz Awan and Faisal Javed, who were earlier on bail, have now been given permission by the court to cancel their bonds.
Central to the court’s decision was the argument that the accused, including Imran Khan, were unaware of the enforcement of Section 144 due to the absence of an official notification from the next district magistrate. The decision hinted at possible political motives behind the case, suggesting a retaliatory stance against the PTI leadership.
During the trial, the court took cognizance of the prosecution’s contention that Imran Khan and others were deliberately defending GT Road. However, he highlighted the lack of public notification of Section 144 by the government.
Besides, the court highlighted the procedural irregularities of having the SHO of Tarnol police station serve as the complainant, pointing out the absence of powers in that role of a police officer. Despite the inclusion of 11 witnesses in the case file, the court revealed the absence of any recorded statements.
