The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, led by the incarcerated former Prime Minister Imran Khan, has seen a substantial easing of legal pressure. The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provincial government has moved to withdraw all cases related to terrorism charges against PTI leaders and activists stemming from the May 9, 2023, riots. This decision, formalized in an official notification from the provincial Home Department, had the backing of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa cabinet. The backdrop to these events was the arrest of PTI’s Imran Khan from the Islamabad High Court, which triggered widespread unrest. Protests by PTI members and supporters escalated into acts of violence, including instances of arson. Protesters targeted both civilian and military installations, such as Jinnah House and the General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi, resulting in extensive damage. Confrontations between law enforcement and demonstrators also led to numerous injuries. The aftermath of these events resulted in significant legal challenges for the former ruling party, leading to the arrests of several prominent figures within PTI. These included Imran Khan himself, along with Shah Mehmood Qureshi and Yasmin Rashid. Aamir Javed Utmankhel, the Attorney General of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, stated the cases were politically motivated. He cited a lack of evidence and the absence of thorough investigations in the cases, which he described as acts of oppression. The Attorney General confirmed that the Chief Minister approved the withdrawal following a cabinet decision. The Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) had been invoked in 29 cases across different districts of the province related to the May 9 violence. The courts had already dismissed a majority of these due to insufficient evidence, and the remainder are set to be terminated due to the absence of witnesses or solid proof. Imran Khan, ousted as Prime Minister in April 2022, faces over 150 criminal charges. He has been convicted in some of these cases and acquitted in others. Imran Khan’s imprisonment began in August 2023, and he is currently held in Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi in a corruption case related to the Al-Qadir Trust.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Government Drops Terrorism Charges Against PTI Leaders, Offering Respite
