A major legal relief emerged for Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) in Peshawar after the Sessions Court acquitted 74 party workers, including PTI Peshawar President Irfan Saleem, in the May 10 protest case.
According to the court order issued by Additional Sessions Judge-IV Faraz Ahmed, the accused were acquitted under Section 265-K of the Criminal Procedure Code (Cr.P.C.), which empowers courts to acquit accused persons at any stage of proceedings if there is no probability of conviction.
The written judgment stated that the provision is intended to prevent abuse of the legal process and avoid unnecessary prolongation of criminal proceedings. The court observed that the available material did not justify continuing the trial against the accused.
Among those acquitted were several PTI workers and office-bearers, including Irfan Saleem, Adil, Gul Noor, Abubakar, Misbah, Muhammad Kamil, Sudais, Muhammad Jawad, Waqar Ahmed, Salman, Shahab, Zeeshan, Kamran, Maaz and others. The court also ordered the cancellation of bail bonds and discharged sureties from their liabilities.
The decision is being viewed as a significant development for PTI in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where multiple protest-related cases have been registered against party leaders and supporters over the past years.
The May 10 protest cases were linked to demonstrations and political unrest that followed nationwide tensions involving PTI supporters. Several party workers had faced arrests, legal proceedings and prolonged court appearances in connection with the incidents.
Legal experts say acquittals under Section 265-K are usually granted when courts conclude that the prosecution lacks sufficient evidence to secure a conviction, making further proceedings unnecessary.
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