Another PTI leader secures bail in May 9 cases

A Special Anti-Terrorism Court has granted bail to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) central leader Usman Dar in all 12 cases related to the May 9 incident, including the attack on the General Headquarters (GHQ).

Special Anti-Terrorism Court Judge Malik Ijaz Asif restrained his arrest and harassment in these cases, providing temporary relief to the political figure embroiled in these allegations.

The court's decision mandates Usman Dar to submit surety bonds for each of the 12 cases. His lawyer, Faisal Malik Advocate, defended his client, asserting that Dar had never been to Rawalpindi and had been wrongly implicated in these cases. According to Malik, Dar neither made any public statements nor posted tweets about the May 9 incident, arguing that merely naming someone in a case does not establish guilt.

Faisal Malik emphasised that Dar had been thoroughly investigated in connection with all the cases and there was no need for further probing. This position was firmly contested by the government's lawyer, who argued that Dar had incited PTI workers to engage in vandalism through phone calls, suggesting a more active role in the events of May 9.

The May 9 incident, which included an attack on the GHQ, has led to widespread legal actions against various individuals associated with PTI, marking it as a critical episode in recent political unrest.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 10^th, 2024.