Imran Khan acquitted in two May 9 riots cases

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan on Thursday was acquitted in two cases pertaining to the May 9 vandalism.

A local court in Islamabad approved the former prime minister's plea challenging the cases.

The 72-year-old politician was acquitted in the riot cases by Judicial Magistrate Umer Shabbir.

The cases were registered against Mr Khan at Shehbaz town police station in the federal capital.

Khan's acquittal plea was approved by the court due to insufficient evidence in the cases against him.

On May 9 last year, several military and civil installations were vandalised by PTI workers and supporters following the arrest of the party founder.

The cricketer-turned-politician was arrested by Rangers personnel in the Al-Qadir Trust corruption case.

The veteran politico was in the IHC's biometric verification department when he was apprehended by paramilitary men.

Following the riots, state institutions initiated a crackdown on the former ruling party.

A total of 102 persons were arrested for their involvement in the attacks on military establishments, including the General Headquarters in Rawalpindi, Jinnah House in Lahore, PAF Base Mianwali, and an office of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) in Faisalabad.

Later, many PTI leaders took a break from politics or left the party condemning attacks on military installations.

However, the PTI founder termed the May 9 riots as a "False Flag operation" to topple his party.