LAHORE: On Tuesday, an anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Lahore rejected the bail application of Dr. Yasmin Rashid, the Punjab president of PTI, in a case related to the vandalism at Shadman police station during the riots on May 9.
The arrest of Imran Khan on May 9 in the Al-Qadir Trust case led to widespread violence, including attacks on significant military installations. In response, the government initiated a severe crackdown on his party.
While Imran Khan was released a few days later (subsequently rearrested in the Toshakhana and cipher case), many PTI workers and a significant portion of the top leadership were detained and continue to face court proceedings on serious charges.
In August, the police added new charges to all May 9 cases, including sections 121 (waging or attempting to wage war against Pakistan), 131 (abetting mutiny or seducing a soldier from duty), and 146 (rioting) of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC).
The first information reports (FIRs) also included additional offenses under sections 120 (concealing a plan to commit an offense), 120-A (defining criminal conspiracy), 120-B (punishment for criminal conspiracy), 121-A (conspiracy to commit offenses punishable under Section 121, i.e., waging or attempting to wage war or abetting waging of war against Pakistan), 505 (statements conducing to public mischief), 153 (provocation with intent to cause a riot), 153-A (promoting enmity between different groups), 153-B (inducing students to take part in political activity), and 107 (abetment of a thing) of the PPC. These FIRs included cases related to attacks on the Corps Commander House, Askari Tower, Shadman police station, and the torching of PML-N party offices in Model Town on May 9.
JIT’s Report
Joint investigation teams appointed to look into the May 9 violence identified more than 900 activists, including the former prime minister and other prominent figures like Yasmin Rashid, as prime suspects in several cases and submitted charge sheets to an ATC.
Last month, the police obtained a five-day physical remand of Yasmin Rashid in a case related to alleged inflammatory speeches delivered on May 9 against state institutions at Lahore’s Sherpao Bridge, as well as rioting following Imran’s arrest.
On September 14, a Lahore ATC remanded Yasmin Rashid to judicial custody for 14 days in the same case.
Earlier this month, a Lahore ATC postponed the hearing of petitions for post-arrest bail filed by Yasmin Rashid and former provincial minister Mian Mahmoodur Rasheed in multiple cases related to the May 9 riots.
A day ago, officials from Kot Lakhpat jail presented Yasmin Rashid and Senator Ijaz Chaudhry in the Askari Tower attack case before a Lahore ATC.
Today, ATC Judge Arshad Javed presided over the hearing of Yasmin Rashid’s bail application in the case involving the vandalism at Shadman police station. During the hearing, the state prosecutor informed the court that Yasmin Rashid was on physical remand in the Shadman attack case. Consequently, the ATC dismissed Rashid’s bail plea, deeming it ineffective.
