PTI chief Imran Khan discharged from murder charges: lawyer

A court dismissed on Monday murder charges against former prime minister Imran Khan, his lawyer said.

“God be praised,” said the lawyer, Naeem Panjutha on messaging platform X, formerly known as Twitter, adding the charges related to the murder of a lawyer in the southern city of Quetta had been dismissed by a court.

Khan, who was charged with the murder in June, has been facing over 100 cases since his ouster in a parliamentary vote of confidence in April 2022, after he fell out with the country’s powerful military.

A high court in Islamabad is also due on Monday to give a ruling on an appeal filed by Khan seeking to suspend his conviction in a graft case.

A government prosecutor wasn’t immediately available to comment on the ruling.

Before his assassination, Razzaq had filed a court petition, pleading that treason proceedings could be initiated against Khan for unconstitutionally dissolving parliament after he lost a vote of confidence in April, 2022.

The political turmoil has caught Pakistan while the country has been struggling through one of its worst economic crises. A general election was expected in November, though it is likely to be delayed until at least early next year.

Khan cannot contest and has been barred from holding political office for five years.

Later on Monday, a high court in Islamabad is expected to rule on Khan’s appeal to suspend his conviction and three-year jail sentence for corruption.