ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) acquitted four Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) workers on Thursday, overturning their previous convictions linked to the May 9 riots.
The four individuals had challenged their sentences in the IHC after being convicted by an Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) on May 30 for their involvement in an attack on a police station in Islamabad’s Ramna area. The convicted individuals—Sohail Khan, Mohammad Akram, Shahzeb, and Mira Khan—were each sentenced to 10 years in prison for charges including rioting, arson, and attempted murder.
The workers had faced multiple charges under the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) and the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA), including unlawful assembly, obstructing official duties, and assaulting public servants. They had been accused of attacking a police station and damaging government property during the protests following the arrest of PTI Chairman Imran Khan on May 9, 2023.
On that day, Imran Khan was taken into custody by paramilitary Rangers on charges of corruption, triggering violent protests across the country. Protesters, allegedly PTI supporters, vandalized state-owned buildings, military installations, and the Lahore Corps Commander’s House, also known as Jinnah House.
A divisional bench of the IHC, comprising Justice Azam Khan and Justice Khadim Hussain Somroo, heard arguments from both sides before delivering the ruling. PTI’s legal team, including Babar Awan and Sardar Masroof, contended that the prosecution’s case lacked solid evidence. Awan pointed out that only one of the nine prosecution witnesses had identified the accused, and there was no proof of gunfire or injuries sustained during the incident.
The IHC judges noted the absence of medico-legal certificates and failed evidence that could directly link the accused to the crime scene. The court also criticized the reliance on an identification parade without sufficient supporting evidence.
While the sentences of the four PTI workers were overturned, 11 others, including PTI MNA Abdul Latif, remain sentenced. However, many of the remaining accused are still at large. The IHC’s decision highlights the complexities surrounding the prosecution of individuals involved in the May 9 protests and the challenges faced in proving charges based solely on identification and circumstantial evidence.
