Magistrate acquits Imran, Asad, other PTI leaders in May 9 vandalism case

ISLAMABAD: Judicial Magistrate Islamabad Muhammad Shabbir on Wednesday acquitted former prime minister Imran Khan and Asad Umar in a case related to protest and vandalism on May 9.

The court issued the verdict after hearing the acquittal requests of the accused. Amina Ali, Sardar Masroof Khan and Mohsin Ghaffar appeared as counsel for the PTI leaders.

Separate acquittal pleas under Section 249 were filed by the accused and the court ruled that the accused could not be punished and pursuing trial would be a waste of time. “Therefore, the acquittal requests of Imran Khan, Asad Umar and Raja Khurram Shahzad are accepted.”

The acquittal requests of Ali Nawaz Awan, Faisal Javed, Abid Hussain and Zaheer Khan were also accepted. The accused Asad Umar, Ali Nawaz Awan and Faisal Javed are on bail and can withdraw their bonds.

A case against the accused was registered on May 26, 2023, at Tarnol police station. A trial court had granted bail to Imran Khan and his two former cabinet members — Shah Mehmood Qureshi and Sheikh Rashid — in a series of cases, registered against them following the May 9, 2023, rioting incidents.