ISLAMABAD: In a rare judicial development, a District and Sessions Court in Islamabad dismissed a new case against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan on Tuesday, citing his prior acquittal in the same matter. The case had been linked to the Haqeeqi Azadi March held in November 2022.
The fresh charge sheet was filed by police at Tarnol police station, despite Imran Khan having already been acquitted in this case in June 2024. The protest had followed the ouster of his government and allegedly involved violations of Section 144 and vandalism.
The hearing was overseen by Judicial Magistrate Shahzad Khan, with defence lawyers Sardar Musroof Khan and Zahid Bashir Dar representing Imran Khan. The lawyers highlighted the unusual nature of the case, noting it was the first time in judicial history that a defendant had faced a new charge sheet after being acquitted.
Upon reviewing the previous acquittal order, the court dismissed the new charges, upholding the earlier ruling. This comes as a relief to the PTI leadership, who are dealing with multiple legal challenges, including Imran Khan’s ongoing imprisonment since August 2023 in a £190 million corruption case and pending trials under the Anti-Terrorism Act related to the May 9, 2023, protests.
Other PTI leaders, including Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Ali Muhammad Khan, and Asad Umar, were also acquitted in earlier cases connected to the Azadi March, easing some pressure on the party amid ongoing legal battles.
The court’s decision underscores the judiciary’s role in ensuring that prior acquittals are respected and prevents repeated prosecutions on the same charges.
