LAHORE/ISLAMABAD: On Sunday, police implicated Shah Mahmood Qureshi, the imprisoned Vice-Chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), in eight additional cases related to the May 9 unrest.
Qureshi is currently held in Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail on multiple charges. Additionally, a special court under the Official Secrets Act sentenced him to 10 years in prison for the cipher case.
The May 9 riots erupted nationwide following the arrest of former Prime Minister Imran Khan in the £190 million settlement case. Hundreds of PTI members and senior leaders were detained for their involvement in violence and attacks on military installations last year.
During the protests, agitators targeted both civil and military sites, including Jinnah House and the General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi. The military dubbed May 9 as “Black Day” and resolved to prosecute the protesters under the Army Act.
Earlier today, a special police team approached the Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Lahore, seeking permission to arrest, interrogate, and summon Qureshi in connection with an FIR registered at Sarwar Road Police Station.
However, the court denied permission due to “security concerns.”
Instead, the court allowed the investigation officer to visit Adiala Jail to interrogate Qureshi within three days.
“For this purpose, the accused shall be deemed to be on physical remand,” stated the court order.
The court also directed the police to produce Qureshi via video link on Monday (May 27) and instructed the jail superintendent to make the necessary arrangements.
Later, the police reached the Rawalpindi prison and recorded Qureshi’s statement.
‘Lawlessness reaching new heights’ Reacting to the new charges against Qureshi, a PTI spokesperson noted that the court had already granted bail to the former ruling party’s vice-chairman in these cases.
“Once again, the law was disregarded to keep Qureshi behind bars, effectively nullifying the court’s order.”
The spokesperson claimed that Qureshi was being punished for steadfastly adhering to the ideology of the PTI founder, adding that lawlessness was reaching unprecedented levels in the country.
The party, the spokesperson said, would take every possible action against this unjust act.
