ISLAMABAD: An anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Rawalpindi has granted bail to former Prime Minister and PTI founder Imran Khan in 12 cases associated with the May 9 riots, while PTI stalwart and former Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi was granted bail in 13 cases.
Imran Khan was also given bail in the GHQ and Army Museum attack cases, with the court ordering a surety bond of Rs0.1 million in all 12 cases.
The bail applications were reviewed by ATC Judge Malik Ejaz Asif, who stated that there was no valid reason to detain the PTI founder, as all accused in the May 9 cases are already on bail.
Imran Khan and Shah Mehmood Qureshi were formally charged on February 6. They appeared before the court, where Imran Khan informed the judge that he was unlawfully arrested on May 9 from the premises of the Islamabad High Court (IHC).
Imran Khan faced multiple charges related to the violence on May 9, which erupted across the country following his arrest in a corruption case. The cases registered in Rawalpindi included the attack on the gate of General Headquarters (GHQ), rioting in the office of a sensitive institution, and others.
He denied the allegations mentioned in the First Information Reports (FIRs) of the cases.
Previously, after being released from Adiala jail, PTI leader Shah Mehmood Qureshi was taken away by Punjab police in connection with a case related to the attack on the GHQ.
Last July, a high-level joint investigation team (JIT) investigating incidents related to the May 9 violence decided to name the former Prime Minister in two terrorism cases, including an attack on the GHQ.
With the addition of new sections in the cases, the PTI chief was charged with plotting and incitement to violence.
(Islamabad51_Newsdesk)
