Imran Khan and PTI Leaders Acquitted in Azadi March Case

Former Prime Minister Imran Khan and other PTI leaders, including Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister, were acquitted in the Azadi March case. The Islamabad High Court also ruled on a separate petition regarding the military trials of Khan's supporters. These legal proceedings mark significant developments for the PTI.

In a significant legal victory, former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan and several key figures from the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), including Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, were acquitted in the high-profile Azadi March case. The verdict was delivered by civil court judge Shehzad Khan and also cleared PTI leaders Raja Khurram Shehzad, Imran Ismail, and Ali Nawaz Awan of all charges related to the case, according to ARY News.

The acquittal follows a series of legal actions against PTI leaders, who had been named in 42 police cases citing unrest during the Azadi March, which had resulted in notable clashes between police forces and PTI supporters in Islamabad. The charges had initially targeted a slate of senior PTI members, reflecting the heightened tensions between the party and law enforcement, as reported by ARY News.

Furthermore, the Islamabad High Court addressed another legal component involving PTI's founder. It dismissed a petition from Imran Khan seeking to preempt a military trial for incidents related to May 9 unrest. Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb announced that the government had yet to decide on pursuing such a trial, and outlined the legal procedures that would be followed if the decision were made, with the Additional Attorney General Munawar Iqbal Duggal affirming compliance with judicial protocols, ARY News noted.

In another judicial decision, Aleema Khan and Uzma Khan, sisters of Imran Khan, have been moved to District Jail Jhelum from Rawalpindi's Adiala Jail. This follows an anti-terrorism court's rejection of a police appeal to extend their remand, leading to their detention on judicial remand, according to Dawn reports.

(With inputs from agencies.)