PTI leaders acquitted in Azadi March case

Judicial Magistrate Malik Muhammad Imran has acquitted Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan, Sheikh Rashid Ahmed, Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Sadaqat Abbasi, and Ali Nawaz Awan in a case related to the Azadi March. The case, which was initially filed in 2022 at Islamabad’s I-9 police station, accused the PTI leaders of violating Section 144 and engaging in acts of vandalism.

This development comes as a significant relief for the accused PTI members, as the court also cleared PTI leader Shehryar Khan Afridi and other party workers of charges related to arson and vandalism during the events of May 9. This verdict represents a notable shift in the legal proceedings against PTI members.

The Azadi March, a political protest organized by PTI, took place in Islamabad in 2022. During the march, allegations of violating Section 144 and engaging in vandalism were leveled against several PTI leaders, leading to legal action being taken against them.

The recent acquittal of PTI leaders in the Azadi March case signifies a positive outcome for the accused individuals. This verdict not only clears their names but also highlights the evolving legal landscape surrounding political protests in Pakistan.