A district and sessions court in Islamabad has provided relief to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan in two separate cases concerning vandalism during the March 2022 long march. The decision follows Khan’s plea for acquittal.
Judicial Magistrate Shaista Kundi accepted petitions from Khan’s legal team, leading to his acquittal in cases filed at Islamabad’s Lohi Bhair and Sahala police stations.
During the hearing, Khan’s lawyer, Advocate Naeem Panjotha, argued that the vandalism allegedly orchestrated by his client lacked substantial evidence. He highlighted discrepancies in the case, emphasizing that Khan was falsely implicated.
Panjotha pointed out that the cases were registered hastily, with multiple allegations laid against PTI’s founder without proper investigation. He stressed the absence of witness statements and questioned the jurisdiction of the Station House Officer (SHO) to register the case.
Responding to inquiries from the judicial magistrate, Panjotha clarified that Khan had been acquitted in similar cases previously, underlining the lack of credible evidence against his client.
Following deliberations, the court reserved its verdict, subsequently announcing Khan’s acquittal. This decision marks a significant legal victory for the former prime minister amidst ongoing legal challenges.
