In a significant legal development, former Prime Minister Imran Khan and PTI leader Shah Mehmood Qureshi were acquitted in two separate cases on Monday.
The Islamabad District and Sessions Court acquitted Khan and Qureshi in cases related to vandalism during the Haqeeqi Azadi March. The court heard two cases filed against the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leadership for alleged vandalism incidents that took place in 2022.
PTI leader Ali Muhammad Khan, Naeem Haider Panjotha, Sardar Masroof Advocate, and Amina Ali Advocate were present in the court along with former minister Asad Umar during the hearing.
The court’s decision came after a detailed examination of the charges, resulting in the acquittal of Imran Khan, Shah Mehmood Qureshi, and others involved in the vandalism cases registered at the Golra police station.
On the other hand, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) nullified the convictions of Imran Khan and Shah Mehmood Qureshi in the cipher case. IHC Chief Justice Aamir Farooq and Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb announced the verdict, overturning the earlier sentences handed down in January which had convicted both leaders to 10 years in prison.
The cipher case which involved allegations of conspiracy to misuse diplomatic communications, was based on a first information report (FIR) registered on August 15 under the Official Secrets Act. The prosecution had accused Khan and Qureshi of distorting the facts of a diplomatic cipher to fulfill nefarious purposes, thereby endangering state interests.
However, after reviewing the evidence and arguments presented, the Islamabad High Court found insufficient grounds to uphold the convictions, resulting in the acquittal of both PTI leaders.
The acquittal of Imran Khan and Shah Mehmood Qureshi in these high-profile cases marks a significant turn in the legal proceedings against the PTI leadership, with potential implications for the political landscape in Pakistan.
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