LAHORE: Chairman Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Imran Khan and all other nominated suspects have been charged with “criminal conspiracy” under additional charges related to the probe into the May 9 riots, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Investigation Anoosh Masood said on Wednesday.
Addressing a press conference in Lahore, Anoosh Masood said that nine additional sections linked to treason have been included in the challans for the cases of violence and vandalism, that occurred after the arrest of the ex-prime minister in the infamous £190 million National Crime Agency (NCA) UK settlement case on May 9, adding that the evidence of provocation of planning vandalism and mutiny have been found against Imran Khan.
The investigative official further said that Section 120(B) [related to punishment of criminal conspiracy] of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) has been added to all the cases initiated from the May 9 incidents.
Masood further said that all the objections from the prosecution have been addressed and removed before the submission of the case challans in the court.
Charges Against Imran Khan
Former Prime Minister Imran Khan was removed through a motion of no confidence in April 2022 and later remained behind bars in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Attock jail. He and other leaders from PTI are facing various allegations including those related to the May 9 riots.
The riots and violent incidents also led to the deaths of at least eight people and injured several others, instigating the authorities to arrest thousands of PTI workers and supporters.
During the protests, the protestors targeted the civil and military installations including, Jinnah House, Radio Pakistan Peshawar, and the General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi. The military termed May 9 “Black Day” and decided to try the protesters under the Army Act.
Meanwhile, to initiate a probe over the issue, the police had added incitement to mutiny and an attempt to wage war among other provisions on August 18 as per the case diary, followed by an approach to the anti-terrorism court seeking permission to investigate the PTI chief.
The court’s Judge Ejaz Ahmad Buttar, consequently, issued an order at the request of the police.
