Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) leader, Sardar Awais Leghari has been acquitted by an anti-corruption court in Dera Ghazi Khan, the 24NewsHD TV channel reported on Friday.
The verdict was reached in a case where Leghari was accused of corruption related to land dealings during his tenure as Chairman of the South Punjab Forest Company in 2018.
Leghari's lawyer, Yakub Dewa said that the anti-corruption court in Dera Ghazi Khan pronounced the acquittal, citing the failure to prove the charges against him.
“This marks the end of a four-year legal battle that saw Awais Leghari on bail, vehemently contending that the allegations against him were politically motivated,” he hinted.
Yakub Dewa continued that the case was initiated by the anti-corruption department in May 2019. However, they were unable to provide substantial evidence to support the claims against the former minister, ultimately resulting in his exoneration.
Dewa further emphasized that his client, Awais Leghari, had been unfairly targeted for political reasons. The acquittal signifies a triumph for justice and accountability in the nation.
In response to the verdict, PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif issued a statement, expressing his gratitude. He remarked, "Thanks be to Allah Almighty that Awais Leghari was acquitted of the wrongful sentence in a false case. The sun of truth has risen, and lies have disappeared, Alhamdulillah."