ISLAMABAD – A local court in Karachi acquitted prominent Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders, including party chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan and Opposition Leader in the National Assembly Omar Ayub Khan. The court dismissed two cases against them, citing insufficient evidence and vague allegations.
Judicial Magistrate Shahzad Khan issued a detailed judgment stating that the prosecution failed to provide strong, clear, and convincing evidence required to convict the accused. The court described continuing the trial as a waste of judicial resources. Other PTI leaders such as Aamir Mughal, Ali Bukhari, Shoaib Shaheen, and Malik Rafique were also acquitted in these cases.
The judgment revealed major legal flaws in the prosecution’s case. It noted that the allegations were general and lacked specifics, failing to identify any particular role played by the accused. The cases originated from an incident where about 150 people participated in a procession that allegedly violated lawful orders and chanted slogans against the state. However, the prosecution could not establish any direct involvement by the accused individuals.
Moreover, the court pointed out the absence of crucial evidence such as CCTV footage, biometric verification from NADRA, or forensic proof linking the accused to the alleged offenses. Only two witnesses appeared in the prosecution’s challan, further weakening the case. The court underscored that the lack of modern investigative techniques violated the accused’s right to a fair trial under Article 10A of the Constitution.
In its conclusion, the court emphasized that the charges were unsubstantiated and lacked merit. It dismissed all allegations against the petitioners and other accused persons, setting an important precedent on the need for clear and specific evidence in criminal cases involving political figures.