Islamabad court dismisses case against Imran Khan, citing prior acquittal

An unusual development unfolded at the District and Sessions Court in Islamabad on Tuesday as the police presented a fresh charge sheet against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan, despite his previous acquittal in the same case. However, the court dismissed the case.

Imran has been imprisoned since August 2023, currently serving a sentence at Adiala Jail in a £190 million corruption case. In addition, he faces pending trials under the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) related to the protests of May 9, 2023.

The case, for which a fresh charge sheet was presented in court today, was registered at Tarnol police station in connection with the Azadi March. It pertained to alleged violations during the Haqeeqi Azadi March – a protest march organised by PTI in November 2022 following the ouster of the Imran-led government.

The hearing was conducted by Judicial Magistrate Shahzad Khan, with lawyers Sardar Musroof Khan and Zahid Bashir Dar appearing on behalf of the PTI founder.

The defence counsel commented on the unusual nature of the case, stating that this was the first time in judicial history that a defendant had been acquitted, only for a new charge sheet to be filed.

In response, the judge instructed the defence to present the previous court order for review. The lawyers submitted the acquittal order, after which the court conducted a detailed review of the record and charge sheet, ultimately dismissing the case based on the prior acquittal.

Read: PTI's moment lost in the fog of war

In June 2024, a district and sessions court of Islamabad acquitted Imran, Shah Mehmood Qureshi, and other party leaders in two cases of vandalism during the Haqeeqi Azaadi March. The case filed against the PTI leadership were booked on charges of vandalism and violation of Section 144.

PTI leaders Ali Muhammad Khan and Asad Umar appeared before the court while all others had filed acquittal pleas. In a sigh of relief to party leaders facing multiple cases, the court acquitted the PTI leaders.

Golra police station had also booked the leaders of the former ruling party over violation of Section 144 imposed during PTI’s Azadi March.