May 9 Controversy
In a significant development, two high-profile members of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Wasiq Qayyum Abbasi, the former Deputy Speaker of the Punjab Assembly, and Umar Tanvir Butt, have dramatically retracted their earlier statements given under Section 164 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC).
These statements were made in connection with the ongoing proceedings in the Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Rawalpindi.
The retraction came in the form of a petition filed by the leaders in the ATC, which has been accepted by the court for further proceedings.
In their petition, Abbasi and Butt claimed that they had never actually made statements accusing former Prime Minister Imran Khan, despite having been listed as witnesses in the case.
The two leaders stated that Khan had consistently urged them to engage in a peaceful struggle and that the earlier statements they had given, which included serious allegations against Khan, were false and untrue.
The petition was presented to the court by their legal representative, Muhammad Faisal Malik, and was promptly admitted by the ATC.
Judge Malik Aijaz Asif is overseeing the case and has scheduled a hearing for today at Adiala Jail, where the court is convening.
Alongside Judge Asif, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar, Senator Azam Khan Swati, and several other lawyers representing the accused have arrived at the jail to attend the proceedings.
The two PTI leaders had been among those detained in relation to the violent incidents that occurred on May 9, which had led to a significant legal and political response.
Their decision to retract their statements could have considerable implications for the ongoing investigation and for the broader political landscape.
This turn of events underscores the complex and evolving nature of the case, as well as the intense legal and political scrutiny surrounding it.
The court’s response to the petition and the subsequent proceedings will be closely watched by both political analysts and the public.
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