The defense lawyer says it is the first time in judicial history that a new accusation has been presented after an acquittal
Imran Khan gestures as he addresses his supporters during a rally in Lahore on April 21, 2022. Photo: Reuters
ISLAMABAD:
An unusual development took place at the Islamabad District and Sessions Court on Tuesday when the police filed a fresh chargesheet against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan despite his earlier acquittal in the same case. However, the court dismissed the case.
Imran has been jailed since August 2023 and is currently serving a sentence in Adiala Jail in a £190 million corruption case. Additionally, he faces pending lawsuits under the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) related to the May 9, 2023 protests.
The case, for which a fresh charge has been filed in court today, was registered at the Tarnol police station in connection with the Azadi March. He was referring to alleged rapes during the Haqeeqi Azadi March, a protest march organized by the PTI in November 2022 following the overthrow 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 defense attorney commented on the unusual nature of the case, stating that it was the first time in judicial history that a defendant was acquitted, only for a new indictment to be filed.
In response, the judge ordered the defense to submit the previous court order for review. The lawyers presented the order of acquittal, after which the court conducted a detailed review of the file and the charge sheet, finally dismissing the case based on the previous acquittal.
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In June 2024, a district and sessions court in 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 leaders was registered on charges of hooliganism and violation of Section 144.
PTI leaders Ali Muhammad Khan and Asad Umar appeared in court, while all others pleaded acquitted. In a sigh of relief for the party leaders facing multiple cases, the court acquitted the PTI leaders.
The Golra police station had also detained the leaders of the former ruling party for violation of Section 144 imposed during the PTI’s Azadi March.
