Imran acquitted in two more May 9 cases

ATC allows former PM phone call with sons

RAWALPINDI/ISLAMABAD:

A local court in Islamabad has acquitted former prime minister Imran Khan in two cases related to the May 9, 2023 incidents of vandalism.

Judicial Magistrate Umar Shabbir announced the reserved verdict on the acquittal petitions submitted by the PTI founder. The court acquitted Imran due to insufficient evidence. Both the cases were filed at Islamabad’s Shahzad Town Police Station under Section 109 of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC).

Section 109 pertains to the abetment of a crime. Abetment refers to encouraging, instigating, or aiding someone to commit a crime.

"Whoever abets any offence shall, if the act abetted is committed in consequence of the abetment, and no express provision is made by this Code for the punishment of such abetment, be punished with the punishment provided for the offence," the section says.

Read 51 sentenced to five years for May 9 riots

Lawyers Mirza Asim Baig and Naeem Panjutha represented the former PM. During the arguments, Baig stated that unauthorized individuals had registered the FIRs and that no evidence was presented to support these allegations.

Consequently, the court acquitted the PTI founder of the charges in these cases.

Meanwhile, an Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) Judge Malik Ejaz Asif granted Imran's request to speak with his sons, Sulaiman and Kasim, via telephone, and directed the Adiala Jail authorities to facilitate this call.

Additionally, the court also approved the request to have his blood samples tested at the Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital (SKMCH), a medical facility founded by Imran.

The court directed that the samples be taken by doctors from Islamabad’s PIMS Hospital in the presence of Dr Faisal, Imran Khan’s physician.

However, the court rejected the request to allow the blood tests of Imran’s incarcerated wife Bushra Bibi conducted at the SKMCH and to allow Imran to meet her. The judge noted that Bushra is not an accused in this court. The court advised that this matter should be taken up with the relevant court.