Imran, Qureshi to be indicted on Feb 6 in May 9 riot cases

ATC extends judicial remand of accused till Feb 6

ISLAMABAD:

An anti-terrorism court (ATC) will indict former premier Imran Khan and former foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshit on February 6 in the May 9 riot cases. 

ATC Judge Malik Ijaz presided over the hearing of the May 9 cases lodged against PTI leaders within the confines of Rawalpindi’s Adiala jail.

Imran and Qureshi were produced before the court, where the former prime minister informed the judge that he was illegally arrested on May 9 from the premises of the Islamabad High Court (IHC).

“Instead of giving me justice, vindictive cases were filed against me,” said Imran.

During the hearing, the police also submitted challans related to May 9 cases registered against the PTI leaders. The cases include the GHQ attack and vandalism of sensitive institutions. 

The judge extended the judicial remand of the two accused PTI leaders till February 6 and approved the challans for hearing. It also instructed that the copies of the cases be distributed to the accused at the next hearing. 

Read: Committee to identify 'masterminds' of May 9

On December 12, a special court established under the Official Secrets Act re-indicted Imran and Qureshi in the cypher case.

The charge sheet stated that both accused publicly flaunted a classified document during a rally on March 27, 2022, exploiting it for personal gain in a deliberate manner, highlighting that the unlawful actions harmed the nation's reputation, security, and diplomatic affairs.

Later on, January 9, the former PM along with his wife Bushra Bibi were indicted by the accountability court in the Toshakhana graft case.

The court also rejected the bail application of the PTI founding chairman in the same case.

The Toshakhana is a state department which retains gifts given by state officials, foreign diplomats, and heads of different governments.

The crux of the accusations revolves around Imran and Bushra allegedly retaining gifts received during their official visits to foreign countries while Imran served as the prime minister.

Instead of following the prescribed official protocol by depositing these gifts in the Toshakhana, the couple purportedly kept them and contributed an amount less than the stipulated value into the national treasury.