LAHORE: An anti-terrorism court (ATC) on Monday granted fresh physical remand of jailed Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf leaders and activists to the police following addition of new offences in the FIRs relating to the May 9 incidents including the attack on the corps commander’s house.
Judge Ejaz Ahmad Buttar allowed Shadman police three-day remand of PTI Punjab president Dr Yasmin Rashid, former senior provincial minister Mian Mahmoodur Rasheed and Senator Ijaz Chaudhry in a case of attacking and burning the police station.
The investigating officer told the court that fresh physical remand of the suspects was required for investigation in the case under new offences added in the FIR.
Earlier, the police produced the suspects before the court after bringing them from jail.
Police plea for fresh remand of Umer Cheema, Khadija in Askari Tower attack case rejected
The judge also allowed Sarwar Road police fresh physical remand of 68 PTI leaders and activists for three days in the corps commander residence attack case.
The suspects include former MNA Alia Hamza, fashion designer Khadija Shah, Sanam Javed and Tayyaba Ambreen.
A lawyer on behalf of the women suspects opposed the remand. He said the women were already on judicial remand for the last three months and the police could investigate them in the jail.
A deputy district prosecutor said custody of the suspects was essential for fresh investigation under new charges added in the FIR.
The judge allowed the police request and granted three-day physical remand of the suspects.
However, the judge turned down a request of Gulberg police for fresh physical remand of former governor Umar Sarfraz Cheema and fashion designer Khadija Shah in Askari Tower attack case.
The police added new offences in all the May 9 cases under sections 121 (waging or attempting to wage a war or abetting in waging of war against Pakistan), 131 (abetting mutiny, or attempting to seduce a soldier, sailor or airman from his duty) and 146 (rioting) in the FIRs.
Other offences under sections 120, 120-A, 120B, 121-A, 505, 153, 153-A, 153-B and 107 of PPC had also been added in the cases, including the attacks on Askari Tower, Shadman police station, and torching of party offices of PML-N in Model Town.
Published in Dawn, August 29th, 2023
