RAWALPINDI, July 8: A local court Friday acquitted former law minister Babar Awan in two cases of robbery and harassment registered against him by the owner of a newspaper in 1998.

Civil Judge and Special Magistrate Rai Mohammad Khan ordered the acquittal by accepting Mr Babar Awan’s application, moved through his counsel Sardar Abdur Raziq under Section 249/A of CrPC, that his involvement in the cases had not been proved and that the accuser too did not want to pursue the charges any further.

Sheikh Iftikhar Adil, owner of a local Urdu language newspaper, had filed a case with New Town police station in 1998.

He alleged that Babar Awan, riding a car with his associates, intercepted him on the road near Shamsabad, snatched his bag and threatened him with death if he did not withdraw a case that he had earlier lodged with the same police station against Babar Awan.

On Friday, the civil judge admitted the application and ordered to acquit Mr Babar Awan. The court observed that the respondent failed to produce sufficient evidence against the accused.

Before moving the application under section 249/A, the counsel of former law minister also produced the documents of settlement between the two parties. Sheikh Iftikhar Adil had recorded his statement on Thursday in the court that he did not want to continue his case against Babar Awan.

Adviser to the Prime Minister Raja Muhammad Basharat mediated between the two to bury the hatchet.