Charsadda court clears 28 PTI workers in two May 9 cases

PESHAWAR: A court in Charsadda has acquitted 28 PTI activists named in two cases linked to the May 9 unrest, ruling that the prosecution did not produce evidence strong enough to sustain a conviction.

Additional District and Sessions Judge Akbar Ali announced the reserved verdicts on Monday in case No. 32/SC and 36/SC of 2023, which were registered at Parang and City police stations. After reviewing the record and witness statements, the court concluded that the allegations had not been proved and extended the benefit of the doubt to all the accused.

In its judgement, the court said a criminal conviction required “strong, credible, and unimpeachable evidence” and held that the standard had not been met during trial. The acquitted men are Fazal Shakoor Khan, Waheed Bacha, Arshad Khan Umarzai, Khalid Khan, Abdullah, Yousaf Ali, Sangeen Khan, Haji Zafar, Amjad Ali Kakar, Fahad, Jan Alam, Saadi, Shakir, Abid Khan, Jahangir Raza, Iftikharullah, Suleman, Noorul Wahab, Nadir Khan, Nisar, Waseemullah, Irfan Aziz, Farooq, Arif Jan, Sangeen Shah, Hassan, Muhammad Alam and Arif.

The court also ordered the discharge of their surety bonds and directed that they be released in accordance with the law if they are not wanted in any other case.