Court reserves verdict in Azadi March case

Lawyers take position that there is no chance of conviction in the case and PTI founder and others should be acquitted

By Khalid Iqbal

June 11, 2024

Police use tear gas to disperse activists of the PTI, the party of ousted prime minister Imran Khan, during a protest in Lahore on May 25, 2022. — AFP

ISLAMABAD: Civil Judge Malik Muhammad Imran Monday reserved decision on the acquittal petitions of PTI founder chairman Imran Khan, Sheikh Rashid Ahmed and others in the Azadi March case.

Sheikh Rashid Ahmed, his lawyer along with Sardar Raziq, Amina Ali Advocate and Mirza Asim Advocate, appeared before the court on behalf of Imran, Asad Umar and Ali Nawaz Awan.

The lawyers took the position that there was no chance of conviction in the case and the PTI founder and others should be acquitted.

Amina Ali Advocate said the person who implemented Section 144 was the complainant himself showing that the case was made on wrong grounds.

The lawyers completed their arguments on the acquittal plea of the PTI founder, Asad Umar, Ali Nawaz Awan and Sheikh Rashid after which the court adjourned the hearing for some time.

As the hearing resumed, the prosecutor presented his arguments. After the counsel completed their arguments, the court reserved the decision and adjourned the hearing till June 13.