CHARSADDA: An additional district and sessions court here on Monday acquitted all the 28 accused nominated in two May 9-related cases.

The court ruled that the prosecution failed to prove the charges against the accused.

Additional District and Sessions Judge Akbar Ali announced the reserved judgements in case No. 32/SC and 36/SC of 2023 registered at Parang and city police stations.

After examining the evidence and testimonies of witnesses, the court held that the prosecution failed to establish the allegations against the accused.

Consequently, the court extended the benefit of the doubt to the accused and acquitted them.

In its judgement, the court observed that a criminal conviction required strong, credible, and unimpeachable evidence. Since such evidence was not produced during the trial, the accused were entitled to acquittal in accordance with the law.

The acquitted individuals included Fazal Shakoor Khan, Waheed Bacha, Arshad Khan Umarzai, Khalid Khan, Abdullah, Yousaf Ali, Sangeen Khan, Haji Zafar, Amjad Ali Kakar, Fahad, Jan Alam, Saadi, Shakir, Abid Khan, Jahangir Raza, Iftikharullah, Suleman, Noorul Wahab, Nadir Khan, Nisar, Waseemullah, Irfan Aziz, Farooq, Arif Jan, Sangeen Shah, Hassan, Muhammad Alam and Arif.

The court further ordered that the surety bonds of the acquitted persons be discharged. It directed that the accused persons, if not required in any other case, be released in accordance with the law.

Published in Dawn, July 28th, 2026