Imran Khan charged with criminal conspiracy

Punjab police have charged Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan and all other nominated accused with ‘criminal conspiracy’ in all May 9 cases registered in the province, including arson attacks on the residence of the Lahore corps commander, reports Dawn.

Official sources said 50 cases had been registered under the anti-terrorism and other laws. Of them, 14 cases each were registered in various police stations of Lahore and Rawalpindi, while nine were lodged in Sargodha, seven in Sheikhupura, five in Faisalabad and one in Gujranwala.

They said the Punjab police recently added offences “under sections 121 (waging or attempting to wage war or abetting waging of war against Pakistan), 131 (abetting mutiny or attempting to seduce a soldier, sailor or airman from his duty) and 146 (rioting)” of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) into the FIRs.

Talking to the media here on Wednesday, Lahore SSP (investigation) Dr Anoosh Masood Chaudhry said, apparently the evidence of inciting mutiny and planning vandalism on May 9 has been confirmed, according to the Lahore police investigation.

In reply to a question about the presence of the PTI chairman on the crime scene, she said that it does not matter whether he was physically present there or not as some evidence proved that he did incite the suspects to carry out violent attacks on sensitive installations of the Pakistan Army.

Dr Chaudhry said the prosecution and police were waiting for final reports from the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and Pakistan Electronic Media Regul­atory Authority (Pemra) regarding videos and other evidence against the May 9 planners and attackers.

She said all the objections raised by the prosecution have also been removed in the wake of the challans of May 9 cases, which would be submitted to courts of law after receiving reports from FIA and Pemra.

/KN/