Shah Mahmood Qureshi acquitted in May 9 violence case
Former foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi. PHOTO: AFP/FILE
A District and Sessions Court in Islamabad has acquitted Shah Mahmood Qureshi in the May 9 violence case on Tuesday.
Judicial Magistrate Sohaib Bilal Ranjha announced the verdict after reserving it following the completion of arguments on the acquittal plea.
This decision marks a significant legal victory for Qureshi, demonstrating the court's commitment to upholding judicial transparency and the rule of law.
In addition to his recent acquittal, Qureshi faces a total of 55 cases registered across various police stations in Islamabad and Punjab.
The Islamabad High Court Chief Justice Aamir Farooq reviewed a plea from Mehar Bano Qureshi, seeking details of the cases against her father. The report revealed 17 cases in Islamabad and 38 in Punjab, with no cases in Balochistan, Sindh, or Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.
On July 4, an Islamabad-based district and sessions court acquitted PTI founder Imran, Qureshi and several other leaders in a case registered at the Aabpara police station.
On June 27, the hearing of May 9 cases against 500 accused, including former premier Imran Khan and former foreign minister Qureshi, was adjourned until July 15 without any proceedings.
The Rawalpindi court expressed displeasure over the absence of the PTI chief and Qureshi, who were reportedly resting in their cells and did not appear despite being summoned.
On June 3, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) acquitted the PTI founding chairman Imran Khan and Qureshi in the Cipher case. The court suspended their 10-year sentence as it heard the appeals by the incarcerated ex-PM Imran and former foreign minister Qureshi.
On March 19, the IHC noted that the speeches delivered by Imran and Qureshi at a public rally in Islamabad on March 27, 2022, "appear to be political in nature."
On May 27, 2022, the Islamabad police filed separate cases against 150 people including then PTI chairman Imran Khan as well as other party leaders over allegations of arson and vandalism in the federal capital a day earlier.