PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has withdrawn all cases registered against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders and workers in connection with the May 9 violence following the arrest of party founder Imran Khan.
According to an official notification issued by the KP Home Department after cabinet approval, the provincial government has appointed Additional Advocate General Muhammad Inam Khan Yousafzai as special prosecutor to pursue the matter in court.
With the KP government’s move, PTI sees a major legal relief for dozens of its workers and leaders in the province. However, the final decision on withdrawal now rests with the courts, which will review the government’s request at the next hearing scheduled for October 15.
KP Advocate General Shah Faisal Utmankhel, in a video message, said that all terrorism-relataed cases filed on May 9 were politically motivated, registered without evidence or proper investigation, and amounted to political victimisation by the caretaker government. He added that the chief minister had ordered their withdrawal after cabinet approval. Yousafzai appeared before a Mardan court in connection with case No. 833 registered at Mardan City Police Station and formally conveyed the provincial government’s decision to withdraw the case. The court adjourned further proceedings until October 15.
The case names several political figures, including MPAs Zahir Shah Toru and Mujahid Khan, along with dozens of PTI workers. While many accused have already been discharged, trials against some individuals are still ongoing.
The advocate general said that 29 cases related to the May 9 violence had been registered across different districts of KP, all under the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA).
“Most of these cases have already been dismissed by courts due to lack of evidence, while the remaining one will collapse as no witnesses or material proof exist,” he remarked.
He argued that the caretaker setup had misused its authority and lodged these cases out of political malice. “These were unconstitutional, unlawful cases based on political revenge,” he said, adding that the Home Department had submitted the cabinet decision, official notification, and related documents before the court in support of case withdrawal.
The Mardan court will resume hearing on October 15 to record arguments regarding the withdrawal plea. Mardan court in connection with case No. 833 registered at Mardan City Police Station and formally conveyed the provincial government’s decision to withdraw the case. The court adjourned further proceedings until October 15.
The case names several political figures, including MPAs Zahir Shah Toru and Mujahid Khan, along with dozens of PTI workers. While many accused have already been discharged, trials against some individuals are still ongoing.
The advocate general said that 29 cases related to the May 9 violence had been registered across different districts of KP, all under the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA).
“Most of these cases have already been dismissed by courts due to lack of evidence, while the remaining one will collapse as no witnesses or material proof exist,” he remarked.
He argued that the caretaker setup had misused its authority and lodged these cases out of political malice. “These were unconstitutional, unlawful cases based on political revenge,” he said, adding that the Home Department had submitted the cabinet decision, official notification, and related documents before the court in support of case withdrawal.
The Mardan court will resume hearing on October 15 to record arguments regarding the withdrawal plea.
