PTI Leaders Get a Break: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to Drop Terrorism Cases from May 9 Riots

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party leaders and members, including those connected to the imprisoned former Prime Minister Imran Khan, have received a measure of relief. The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provincial government is taking steps to withdraw all cases linked to the May 9, 2023, riots, where charges of terrorism were brought against PTI figures. The decision to drop these cases was sanctioned by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa cabinet, as confirmed by an official statement from the provincial Home Department. The unrest in question was prompted by the arrest of PTI leader Imran Khan from the Islamabad High Court, stemming from a corruption investigation. PTI supporters and officials participated in significant demonstrations, including acts of vandalism and arson. They targeted various locations, including Jinnah House and the General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi, resulting in considerable damage. Additionally, confrontations between the police and demonstrators resulted in casualties. Following the incidents, the former ruling party faced significant legal actions, leading to the arrest of key figures. These included Imran Khan, as well as Shah Mehmood Qureshi and Yasmin Rashid. Aamir Javed Utmankhel, the Attorney General for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, described the cases as politically driven. He pointed to a lack of supporting evidence and said they were akin to government persecution. He indicated that the Chief Minister greenlit the withdrawal following cabinet approval. Under the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA), 29 cases related to the May 9 violence were launched in various districts within the province. Many of these have been dismissed by courts due to insufficient evidence, and the remaining ones are expected to be dismissed because of a lack of witnesses or concrete proof. Imran Khan, who was removed from the Prime Minister’s office in April 2022, is facing over 150 criminal cases. He has been convicted in several, and acquitted in some. Imran Khan has been incarcerated since August 2023 and is currently detained in Adiala Jail, Rawalpindi, concerning an Al-Qadir Trust corruption case.