PTI leaders on a legal rollercoaster

Non-bailable warrants out for Imran over May 9 riots; Qureshi, Umar flee after court rejects their bail pleas

ISLAMABAD/ LAHORE:

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders Shah Mehmood Qureshi and Asad Umar fled court premises on Tuesday in a desperate attempt to avoid being arrested after a local court denied them bail in a case connected to May 9 violence.

After the PTI chief was arrested on May 9 over corruption charges, several protestors attacked sensitive state and military installations in retaliation.

Subsequently, several party leaders and workers were arrested and slapped with cases of inciting violence and spreading unrest.

Qureshi and Umar had emerged as two key leaders who had opted not to part ways with the party after their release from custody, unlike a major chunk of their former colleagues that have denounced their party memberships.

Nonetheless, following his release from jail last month, Umar stepped down from his role as PTI Secretary General.

Read PTI refutes Asad Umar's claim of ideological differences

The two leaders appeared before Additional Sessions Judge, Tahir Abbas Supra, today in connection with a case registered against them over arson and vandalism of state and public property.

As soon as the judge announced his verdict rejecting the two PTI leaders' bail applications, the two were seen escaping the court premises to avoid arrest.

Qureshi and Umar hurriedly made their way to a vehicle parked outside the court before driving off.