Major Relief for Imran Khan’s Party: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Government Withdraws All Terrorism Cases

Significant relief has been granted to leaders and activists of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), the party of imprisoned former Prime Minister Imran Khan. The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provincial government in Pakistan has withdrawn all cases registered against PTI leaders and workers in connection with the May 9, 2023, riots. According to an official notification issued by the provincial Home Department, the decision to withdraw the cases was approved by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa cabinet. The unrest followed the arrest of PTI chief Imran Khan from the Islamabad High Court, related to a corruption case. PTI leaders and workers staged vehement protests, including acts of arson on the streets. During the violence, protesters attacked civilian and military establishments, including Jinnah House and the General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi, causing significant damage. Clashes between the police and protesters also occurred, resulting in injuries. The former ruling party faced serious legal challenges due to the unrest. Several senior PTI leaders, including Imran Khan, Shah Mehmood Qureshi, and Yasmin Rashid, were arrested for their alleged involvement in the events. The Attorney General of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Aamir Javed Utmankhel, stated that all terrorism-related cases registered on May 9 were politically motivated. In a video message, he emphasized that these cases were registered without sufficient evidence or proper investigation and were akin to government oppression. The Attorney General mentioned that the Chief Minister ordered the withdrawal of these cases after cabinet approval. He noted that 29 cases related to the May 9 violence were filed under the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) in various districts of the province. Most of these cases have already been dismissed by the courts due to lack of evidence, and the remaining cases will also be closed due to the absence of witnesses or concrete evidence. Imran Khan was removed from the position of Prime Minister in April 2022. Over 150 criminal cases have been filed against him, and he has been convicted in several, while acquitted in others. Imran Khan has been incarcerated since August 2023. Currently, he is imprisoned in Adiala Jail, Rawalpindi, in connection with a corruption case related to the Al-Qadir Trust.