Ex-PTI leaders deny becoming witnesses against Imran Khan in May 9 riots case

Former Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders, Wasiq Qayyum and Umar Tanveer Butt, have denied becoming witnesses against party founder Imran Khan and his spouse Bushra Bibi in May 9 riots case.

Both former PTI members appeared before the Anti-Terrorism Court’s Judge Malik Ijaz Asif and said they did not give any confessional statements under section 164.

Declaring the police’s stance wrong, the May violence suspects said they never testified against Mr and Mrs Khan.

The PTI founder always directed us to record peaceful protests, the added.

Former Punjab Assembly Speaker and MPA said Imran Khan always advised us to do a peaceful struggle. 

Wasiq and Umar's lawyer, Faisal Malik, has submitted the petitions, seeking their acquittal from the case on the basis of 'lack of evidence'.

In December last year, Wasiq Qayyum had decided to quit PTI and politics after a crackdown on former ruling party's leaders owing to May 9 riots, in which several military and civil installations were vandalised after the arrest of Imran Khan in a corruption case. 

“My political career aimed at serving the people but it is unbearable to hold the burden of political confrontation with state and institutions,” he said in a post on X.

Later in January, Umar Tanveer Butt had resigned from the party affiliation due to an alleged "anti-military narrative of party leadership".