The Islamabad High Court has ordered to quash 13 cases registered against PTI leader Ali Amin Gandapur. The high court on Monday heard a petition filed by Gandapur seeking cancellation of more than 15 cases pertaining to arson incidents during PTI’s May 25 long march and holding of protests after the verdict of Election Commission of Pakistan. During today’s hearing, the court ordered to cancel 13 cases against Gandapur. However, the petitioner withdrew his petitions in two other cases. 

Justice Tariq Mehmood Jehangiri heard Gandapur’s petitions. The SHOs and investigation officers of as many as 15 police stations appeared before the court. The judge expressed his exasperation when the police failed to present any proof against Gandapur in support of their accusations. Earlier, at the outset of the hearing, Justice Jehangiri inquired about the cases and allegations against Gandapur. He ordered the state prosecutor to present proofs.

On this, the state prosecutor told the court that there were different cases against the accused including May 25 long march case. He said that a challan was submitted against Gandapur to the court. Justice Jehangiri told the lawyer to read out cases one by one. He asked him to read out the FIR registered in the Bhara Kahu police station. The judge said that it was written in the FIR that incidents of arson were committed at the behest of Gandapur. He asked the prosecutor to present proofs in support of these allegations.

But the police failed to provide any proofs. An official of the Aabpara police told the court that they had got a USB as a proof. On which, the judge got infuriated and gave a dressing down to him saying that the USB could not be regarded as a proof, rather it’s just a transcript. The police official requested the court to give them more time to bring proofs. But the irate judge refused to give police more time warning them that he would order an action against them, if they failed to provide proofs today. The judge remarked that he had no sympathy with the petitioner, but the police should not register a false case against any person.

Credit : Independent News Pakistan-INP