By ISLAMABAD: A district and sessions court deliberated over an acquittal petition submitted by prominent political figures including Imran Khan, Shah Mehmood Qureshi, and Sheikh Rashid, among others, in the Azadi March case.
According to INP, Judicial Magistrate Malik Imran presided over the proceedings and reserved the verdict following final arguments.
Former federal minister Sheikh Rashid, accompanied by co-accused Ali Nawaz Awan and Sadaqat Abbasi, appeared before the court to file the acquittal petition. Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaaf (PTI) counsels Sardar Masroof advocate, Amina Ali, Rizwan Akhtar Awan, and Mirza Asim were also present during the hearing.
Meanwhile, Advocate Sardar Masroof emphasised that the acquittal plea had been submitted in February of the previous year and expressed his intention to present arguments during the session. Judge Malik Imran noted the submission of challans by Sheikh Rashid, Sadaqat Abbasi, and Ali Nawaz Awan.
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As per the reports, Counsel Masroof underscored that the FIR was based on alleged violations of Section 144, highlighting the absence of evidence such as CCTV footage to substantiate the claims. He further argued that the case had been lodged by an irrelevant party.
Following comprehensive deliberation on the petition’s merits, the judge reserved the verdict and adjourned the hearing until June 6, when the decision is slated to be announced.
The Azadi March case also implicates other notable figures including Ali Amin Gandapur, Pervez Khattak, Asad Qaisar, and Asad Umar, as registered by F-9 Police Station.
Meanwhile, in Lahore, an anti-terrorism court (ATC) extended interim bail for Imran Khan in the Jinnah House attack case. ATC Judge Arshad Javed presided over the proceedings, granting an extension until April 16 and scheduling arguments for the next hearing.
It is pertinent to mention that Imran Khan, along with Asad Umar, Faisal Javed, and others, was acquitted in a protest and vandalism case on February 28, which was registered on February 26, 2022.
