Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Founder Imran Khan has been acquitted of charges in two cases related to the May 25 long march and vandalism during the event in Islamabad.
Judicial Magistrate Shaista Kundi pronounced a reserved verdict on the plea for acquittal. The cases, registered against the former prime minister in Sihala and Lohi Bher police stations, stemmed from allegations of involvement in long march vandalism.
However, the plea for acquittal and production in court filed by Imran Khan has resulted in a favourable outcome, with Judge Kundi granting him acquittal.
During the court proceedings, arguments were presented by lawyer Naeem Panjotha, who requested that Imran Khan be presented in court. The judge asked who will be responsible if anything happened to him while he was brought to court.
Panjotha said the provision of security was the government's job, adding that he wanted to present his arguments in the presence of the PTI founder.
The judge said attendance was necessary in case of a bail application, not for acquittal. She then rejected Imran Khan's production request.
Furthermore, Panjotha argued that his client had been accused in all the cases in the context that it all happened on his behalf. There were many cases filed on the same day, he added. He further claimed that the implementation of Section 144 was neither notified nor anybody informed about it. "The plaintiff is an SHO who has no authority to register the case," the counsel argued.
He further said that there were no witness statements also in any of the cases registered against Imran Khan, adding that his client had been acquitted in several other cases also.
