ATC acquits PTI's Yasmin Rashid in Jinnah House attack case

Court directs police to remove PTI leader’s name from FIR, orders her immediate release

An anti-terrorism court in Lahore on Saturday ordered the release of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Yasmin Rashid, who was arrested in connection with the attack on Jinnah House on May 9, Express News reported.

In an unprecedented show of vandalism on May 9, protestors allegedly belonging to the PTI vandalised public and private properties and even attacked the Army's General Headquarters in Rawalpindi and the Lahore Corps Commander’s residence, a historic building which was once the Lahore residence of the founder of the nation Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah.

The attack took place hours after paramilitary Rangers personnel arrested PTI chairman Imran Khan in the Al-Qadir Trust corruption case, later retitled as the £190 million National Crime Agency scandal, on the orders of the National Accountability Bureau, from the Islamabad High Court premises.

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The rioting was followed by a harsh crackdown against the former ruling party leaders and workers that still continues. Several senior PTI leaders have since been arrested, and many have dissociated themselves from the former ruling party.

However, Yasmin Rashid was among the leaders still standing firm with deposed prime minister Imran Khan.

Hearing the case today, the court discharged PTI Punjab President Yasmin Rashid from the case and directed authorities to release her immediately. Rejecting the police's request for Dr Rashid's physical remand, the ATC ordered the removal of her name from FIR number 96/23 registered at the Sarwar Road Police Station.

Following the court's orders, the police removed her name from the FIR. She was presented before the court upon the police's request to demand her custody.

It should be noted that Rashid was transferred to Services Hospital in Lahore due to deteriorating health. The Model Town Division police had reached the hospital to arrest her.