ATC acquits PM Imran Khan in PTV attack case

ISLAMABAD: An anti-terrorism court (ATC) acquitted Prime Minister Imran Khan on Thursday in the PTV attack case, when scores of the PTI and the Pakistan Awami Tehreek’s (PAT) workers intruded into the state television network’s building.

A lawyer on behalf of the government had filed the petition requesting the court to acquit the premier. The prosecution as well had said that the case against the prime minister had been filed on political grounds and would be a waste of the court’s time.

The court also decided to halt proceedings against President Dr Arif Alvi owing to the PTI leader holding the presidential office.

The court, however, decided to indict others named in the case, including Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Defence Minister Pervez Khattak, Education Minister Shafqat Mehmood, and Planning Minister Asad Umar, as well as prominent party leader Aleem Khan and a former close aide of PM Imran, Jahangir Khan Tareen.

The court declared PAT chief Dr Tahir ul Qadri an absconder in the case.