ISLAMABAD: A local court in Islamabad on Thursday acquitted former prime minister Imran Khan, Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Sheikh Rashid Ahmed and others in a case registered with the Industrial Area police station in connection with the ‘Azadi March’.

Judicial Magistrate Malik Imran ordered their acquittal for want of evidence. The police registered the FIR against Mr Khan, Mr Qureshi, Sheikh Rashid, Sadaqat Abbasi, and Ali Nawaz Awan over violation of Section 144 and vandalism.

It may be mentioned that the PTI leadership was booked in over a dozen FIRs in connection with the Azadi March on May 25, 2022, which was launched following the ouster of the PTI government through a no-confidence move.

Identical FIRs in different police stations of Islamabad were registered 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.

The former prime minister has already been acquitted by courts in multiple cases registered by the Karachi Company and Khanna police.

Published in Dawn, June 14th, 2024