Pakistan court acquits Imran Khan in case related to 2014 attack on police

The former cricket star became Pakistan’s chief opposition leader and now seeks to become the Pakistan’s next prime minister.

world Updated: May 04, 2018 18:35 IST

AP, Islamabad

Imran Khan, chairman of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) political party, gestures as he addresses his supporters during a rally in Lahore, Pakistan.(Reuters File Photo)

A Pakistani court has acquitted the country’s popular opposition lawmaker Imran Khan in a case over the wounding of a police chief during clashes in 2014 between Khan’s supporters and police at a rally in Islamabad.

Khan was in the court for Friday’s decision and welcomed the ruling.

On Sunday, the former cricket star who became Pakistan’s chief opposition leader — and now seeks to become the country’s next prime minister — launched his party’s campaign for the July elections.

He presented an 11-point agenda, pledging to bring about “peaceful political change” and defeat “corrupt” politicians.

Khan has been leading rallies and fighting legal battles against the ruling Pakistan Muslim League since 2013. Acting on his petition, Pakistan’s Supreme Court last year disqualified then-prime minister Nawaz Sharif from office.