Police get two-day physical remand of Imran Ismail

Four more PTI activists quit party; witnesses identify alleged rioters of May 9 incident

KARACHI:

An anti-terrorism court (ATC) has allowed two-day physical remand of Imran Ismail, former Sindh governor and senior leader of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), in a case involving rioting in the aftermath of his party chief Imran Khan's arrest on May 9.

The Tipu Sultan police produced Imran Ismail, who was arrested on Friday, in the anti-terrorism court under tight security on Saturday. The police presented him before the ATC judge to seek his physical remand.

Pleading before the court, the investigating officer (IO) stated that the PTI leader faces charges of leading a mob that ran riots on May 9, setting the government property on fire to create terror in the city. The IO requested the court for grant of physical remand of the suspect for further investigation.

The court granted the IO request and sought a progress report at the next hearing on Monday.

While speaking informally with the media after his court appearance, Imran Ismail dismissed the allegations against him as politically motivated. "I wasn't there when the rioting happened," he said, adding that there was no pressure on him to quit the PTI.

The former governor was arrested on Friday as the law enforcers intensified a nationwide hunt for those who vandalisd government and security forces buildings during rioting following the arrest of Imran Khan on May 9. Most top leaders of the party have already been taken into custody.

En bloc resignation

The newly-elected ward councilor, vice president and general secretary of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) resigned from the party on Saturday.

The elected General Councilor from Saddar Town, Sulaiman Qureshi, flanked by the PTI Ward Vice President Imran Mana Qureshi, General Secretary Saif Ali Qureshi and Jameel Arefeen, during a press conference at the Karachi Press Club, announced their en bloc resignation from the party membership and councilor seat.

Sulaiman Qureshi said that he was elected as councilor from Union Council 9 Ward 4, Saddar Town on PTI ticket and wanted to serve the public as per his party's manifesto but he was heartbroken by the events that took place on May 9 and therefore he decided to resign from the party's membership.

Responding to a question, Qureshi said that he will not join any other political party after resigning from PTI, rather would remain independent.

Witnesses identify accused

The Anti-Terrorism Administrative Court sent a man and his son to jail on judicial remand for setting the Rangers post on fire at Nursery during a protest against the arrest of Imran Khan.

A trial was held in the Anti-Terrorism Administrative Court in Karachi for burning the Rangers check-post. The suspects Abdul Hameed and Huzaifa were produced in the court by the police after their physical remand. The investigating officer stated that witness statements had been recorded before the Judicial Magistrate, and the investigation of the suspects had been completed. The court ordered the investigating officer to present a challan at the next hearing.

Earlier during the identification parade, witnesses identified Abdul Hameed and Huzaifah among the dummies and confirmed their involvement in torching the Rangers post. Tariq Aziz and Muneer Khan were the witnesses. The identification parade took place before the Judicial Magistrate South at the Karachi City Court.

Eyewitnesses reported that the both the suspect were present at Nursery on Sharea Faisal pelting stones at vehicles, vandalising them, and setting them ablaze.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 21^st, 2023.