Imran Khan, Shah Mehmood acquitted in Azadi March case

A local court in Islamabad on Thursday acquitted PTI founder Imran Khan and party vice-chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi in the Azadi March case. 

Islamabad’s district and session court’s Judge Malik Muhammad Imran pronounced the verdict reserved on June 11, over the pleas of incarcerated PTI leaders and ally Shiekh Rashid Ahmed.

As per the decision, the court acquitted Imran Khan, Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Sheikh Rashid Ahmed, Sadaqat Abbasi, and Ali Nawaz Awan from the Azadi March case, which was registered in May 2022.

Previously, the court had heard the argument and reserved the verdict. 

Imran Khan, after his removal as prime minister by a no-confidence motion tabled by the then PDM alliance, had demanded a fresh poll, otherwise, he had threatened the authorities that he would come with a rally to Islamabad and the protest would be staged. 

On May 25, Imran Khan-led PTI began its Azadi March, with hundreds of thousands of workers across the country participating in the March to the federal capital.

The government had attempted to stop the demonstrators from reaching the federal capital by shutting down all entry and exit points around the city, but the apex court’s order had allowed the protesters to enter ICT. 

On May 26, the PTI founder ended the rally and reiterated his demand for entities to hold fresh elections, or they would have to face a mass protest.