LAHORE: An anti-terrorism court on Monday indicted Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) top leader Shah Mahmood Qureshi in connection with the May 9 riots case.
Qureshi, who was transferred to Kot Lakhpat jail from Adiala jail under tight security, faces several charges related to the May 9 incidents, including arson, filed against him at the Shadman police station.
The court had summoned the PTI leader to initiate indictment proceedings. Witnesses have been ordered to appear at the next hearing, scheduled for July 22.
The former foreign minister, currently imprisoned in Rawalpindi’s Adiala jail on multiple charges, was previously indicted in eight other cases related to the May 9 unrest earlier this year.
Additionally, a special court established under the Official Secrets Act had sentenced Qureshi to 10 years imprisonment in the cipher case. However, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) nullified Qureshi’s conviction in this case in June.
The May 9 riots were triggered nationwide following the arrest of deposed prime minister Imran Khan in the £190 million settlement case. Hundreds of PTI workers and senior leaders were detained for their involvement in violence and attacks on military installations.
During the protests, civil and military installations, including the Jinnah House and General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi, were targeted. The military termed May 9 “Black Day” and decided to try the protesters under the Army Act.
