In the latest development to the probe into the May 9 riots, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan and all others nominated as suspects have been charged with “criminal conspiracy” under additional charges included to the related cases, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Investigation, Anoosh Masood, said on Wednesday.
She also said that nine additional sections about treason have been included in the challans for the cases of vandalism and violence that erupted after the deposed prime minister’s arrest in the infamous £190 million National Crime Agency (NCA) UK settlement case on May 9, against all the suspects including Khan.
The investigation official said evidence of inciting mutiny and planning vandalism had been found against the PTI chief.
“Section 120(B) [about the punishment of criminal conspiracy] of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) has been added to all the cases related to the May 9 incidents,” Masood said.
She added that all the objections raised by the prosecution had been removed before submitting the case challans in the court.
The former premier, removed through a parliamentary vote in April last year, has been grilled by a special JIT probing the May 9 rampage almost across the country after an anti-terrorism court (ATC) granted permission.
Khan, who remains behind bars in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Attock jail, and several others, including some PTI leaders, are facing various allegations in the cases related to the violence following his arrest on May 9.
The riots also led to the deaths of at least eight people and injured several others, prompting the authorities to arrest thousands of PTI workers and followers. Party workers were put behind bars for their involvement in violence and attacks on military installations.