PHC seeks record in May 9 cases

PESHAWAR: The Peshawar High Court (PHC) on Wednesday issued notices to the relevant parties and called for the record in appeals filed by the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government seeking withdrawal of several cases against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) workers linked to the May 9 and 10 protests that followed the arrest of the party founder.

A single-member bench headed by Justice Kamran Hayat Mian Khel heard the matter. The provincial government has challenged an Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) ruling that had rejected its applications for withdrawal of the cases.

Special Prosecutor Inamullah Khan Yousafzai, representing the provincial government, told the court that the provincial cabinet had decided to withdraw the cases. He said the Home Department had also issued a formal notification after approval and added that neither the cabinet decision nor the notification had been challenged so far.

During the hearing, the prosecutor argued that the cases had been registered on political grounds and that there was no evidence against the accused persons. Referring to those booked in the matter, he told the court that "Educated individuals were arrested and implicated in these cases for political reasons."

When Justice Kamran Hayat asked how many cases were involved, the prosecutor said there were three separate cases and that more than 40 named individuals had been included in them. He further stated that there was no evidence against any of those persons.

The judge, however, questioned the basis for the government’s position and asked whether any action had been taken against the relevant station house officer if the cases were indeed not properly registered. He also asked whether the record sought by the prosecution had been received from the police.

In response, the special prosecutor informed the bench that the required record from the concerned police stations had not yet been received.

After hearing the initial arguments, the court issued notices to all concerned parties, directed them to submit the complete record, and adjourned further proceedings.

The case comes amid the provincial government’s move to withdraw cases arising out of the violent protests that broke out across Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa after the arrest of PTI founder Imran Khan.