Awami Muslim League (AML) chief Sheikh Rashid was arrested on Tuesday in a case related to the May 9 riots, shortly after he secured bail in 11 other related cases, including the GHQ attack one. The court had reserved its judgment on the bail requests of 24 people, including three PTI candidates and Rashid a day earlier.
Besides Rashid, ATC Judge Malik Ijaz Asif also approved interim bail of former Punjab Assembly deputy speaker Wasiq Qayyum Abbasi and other PTI workers in cases linked to the riots. Rashid's bail was subject to the payment of a surety bond worth Rs100,000.
Earlier on Tuesday, the AML chief's lawyer, Advocate Sardar Abdul Razzaq, mentioned that bail was confirmed in two cases, with the decision for the remaining 10 cases expected shortly. Interim bail was anticipated in the remaining cases due to similar allegations and evidence.
Read Committee to identify 'masterminds' of May 9
Advocate Razzaq expressed confidence in the fairness and independence of the ATC judges, including Judge Ijaz. During the proceedings, the public prosecutor apprised the court that the investigation was under way and sought sufficient time.
However, the court expressed its displeasure over not presenting the record of the cases and directed the authorities to complete the investigation and submit the record by the next date. The former interior minister and his nephew were also present in the courtroom.
When the prosecutors asked for more time, Rashid came to the rostrum, took out a pocket-sized copy of the Holy Quran and took an oath, saying: “I swear by Almighty Allah that I have nothing to do with the events of May 9.” The ATC judge remarked that it was not appropriate to give a statement on the Holy Quran in court.
Read Sheikh Rashid gets interim bail in May 9 case
The counsel for the former interior minister adopted the stance that the prosecution had no evidence against his client. “The names of Sheikh Rashid and Rashid Shafiq were included in these cases without any basis. So far, the prosecution has sought time on four occasions but is not ready to present arguments.
On every date, a new excuse is made and more respite is taken,” Rashid’s counsel upheld. Rashid and his nephew Rashid Shafiq were implicated in 12 cases connected to the May 9 riots. All 10 police stations had requested Rashid's arrest to complete the investigation.
The May 9 riots refer to attacks on state installations last year, following the arrest of the then-PTI chairman Imran Khan in a corruption case. The installations, which were attacked, included the army’s General Headquarters in Rawalpindi and corps commander's house in Lahore.
Previously, the cases in which Rashid and his nephew’s interim bails were extended by the ATC include the GHQ attack, the army museum attack, the intelligence agency office attack and the setting of a metro bus station on fire.
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