Pakistan: Court Acquits Imran Khan And Shah Mahmood Qureshi In Vandalism Cases

A district and sessions court in Islamabad on Monday acquitted Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan and party leader Shah Mahmood Qureshi in two cases related to vandalism during the long march, as reported by Geo News.

Judicial Magistrate Ehtesham Alam granted the acquittal to the two PTI leaders following petitions filed by Khan and Qureshi. Additionally, PTI leaders Ali Mohammad Khan and Murad Saeed were acquitted in both cases, while former PTI leader Asad Umar also received relief, according to the Geo News report.

Ali Mohammad Khan and Asad Umar appeared in court to mark their attendance. The cases against them were registered at the Golra Police Station.

This decision comes two weeks after similar acquittals of the PTI founder and other party leaders in cases lodged at the Kohsar and Karachi Company police stations for violating Section 144. Leaders acquitted on May 20 included Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Qasim Suri, Raja Khurram Nawaz, Shireen Mazari, Saifullah Niazi, Asad Umar, Zartaj Gul, Ali Nawaz Awan, Faisal Javed, and Awami Muslim League chief Sheikh Rashid Ahmad.

The acquittal follows a district and sessions court of Islamabad’s May 30 decision to acquit Khan in two cases related to the May 9 riots, citing insufficient evidence presented by the prosecution.

Imran Khan has been incarcerated in Adiala Jail since August 2023, while several PTI leaders face various allegations related to the violence following his May 9 arrest.

On May 16, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) approved Imran Khan’s bail petition in the £190 million National Crime Agency (NCA) settlement case. However, he remains in prison due to other pending cases.

Earlier in May, Imran Khan appeared before a Supreme Court (SC) bench in the National Accountability (NAB) Ordinance 1999 amendment case. A five-member SC larger bench, headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa, heard the case with arrangements made for Khan’s appearance via video link in accordance with the court’s order.