Imran, his ex-ministers get bail in May 9 cases

A trial court has granted bail to former prime minister Imran Khan and his two former cabinet members—Shah Mahmood Qureshi and Sheikh Rashid—in a series of cases registered against them following the May 9, 2023, rioting incidents.

Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) Judge Malik Ejaz Asif granted this relief to the politicians during the hearing of their bail applications at the judicial complex of the garrison city on Saturday.

Violent protests erupted nationwide on May 9, 2023, after PTI founder Imran Khan's arrest from the Islamabad High Court (IHC) premises in connection with a corruption case.

Protesters, allegedly PTI supporters and workers, attacked various state and military installations, including the GHQ in Rawalpindi. They also vandalized and set fire to memorials and other properties.

In July of the same year, a high-level joint investigation team (JIT) decided to nominate the former premier in two terrorism cases, including one related to the attack on the GHQ. Additional sections were added to the cases, charging the PTI leader with plotting and incitement to violence.

In total, Imran was implicated in 12 different cases related to the May 9 rioting. Shah Mahmood Qureshi faced accusations in 13 such cases, while Sheikh Rashid was named in one rioting case. These politicians later filed separate bail applications in these cases.

Read Imran arrested in GHQ attack case

During Saturday's hearing, Judge Asif expressed extreme displeasure at the absence of public prosecutors. He adjourned the court for an hour, directing the prosecutors to appear immediately for arguments.

When the court resumed, the prosecutors were still absent. The judge then ordered the investigation officers (IOs) to present case details and respond to court questions. However, the IOs failed to provide satisfactory answers.

Subsequently, the judge granted bail to Imran in all 12 cases upon submission of a surety bond worth Rs100,000 for each case. Qureshi was granted bail in all 13 cases upon submission of a bond worth Rs100,000 for each case, while Rashid was granted bail upon submission of a bond worth Rs200,000.

In its written order, the court noted that the accused were not initially named in the original First Information Reports (FIRs). Their names were added to the reports four to five months after the rioting incidents. The court stated that there was evidently no evidence against the accused.

The court also observed that while many accused in such cases were out on bail, there was no justification for detaining the accused politicians.

Imran Khan was recently convicted in three different cases, while Qureshi was sentenced to 10 years in prison in the cipher case. The bail relief, however, will not result in their immediate release from prison. Nevertheless, Sheikh Rashid was released from jail following the court's order.