Shah Mahmood Qureshi Granted Bail in May 9 Riots Case
Lahore – A special anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Lahore has granted post-arrest bail to senior Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader and former foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi in connection with a case linked to the May 9 riots.
ATC Judge Manzar Ali Gul announced the verdict on Saturday, a day after reserving judgment following arguments presented by both the defense and prosecution.
The case, lodged at Shadman Police Station, accused Qureshi of inciting violence, arson, and involvement in attacks on public property during protests that erupted last year after the arrest of PTI chairman Imran Khan.
Qureshi’s lawyer argued that the charges were politically driven and lacked direct evidence. In contrast, the prosecution maintained that Qureshi had played a key role in provoking unrest through speeches and instructions to party workers.
After reviewing the case record, the court approved Qureshi’s bail request and directed him to submit the required surety bonds.
In a separate development, an Islamabad court acquitted PTI leaders Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, Omar Ayub, Ali Nawaz Awan, and Shoaib Shaheen in another case related to the May 9 protests, registered at the Karachi Company Police Station.
The court ruled that the prosecution had failed to present evidence directly linking the accused to any unlawful activity.
The May 9 unrest, triggered by Imran Khan’s arrest, led to widespread protests and damage to public property, with multiple PTI leaders facing anti-terrorism charges. Many of these cases remain under trial in courts across the country.
