LAHORE: An anti-terrorism court (ATC) on Thursday recorded statements of two prosecution witnesses in a May 9 case of Shadman Police Station attack against former foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi and other leaders of the PTI.

Mr Qureshi was indicted last week in the Kot Lakhpat Jail where ATC-I Judge Khalid Arshad conducted the trial proceedings.

After the testimony of the prosecution witnesses, the judge summoned the defense lawyer for the cross-examination on July 22.

During the hearing, Mr Qureshi requested the judge for an exemption from personal appearance in the trial, saying he was transported from the Adiala Jail, Rawalpindi, to Lahore in fever. He said traveling such a distance was painful for him.

The suspects who were released on bail in the case appeared for the trial court in the jail, while detained suspects were also presented for the proceedings.

After the hearing, Mr Qureshi was taken back to the Adiala Jail.

Shadman police had registered a case against PTI leaders and activists on charges of attacking and burning the police station during the May 9 riots following the arrest of former premier Imran Khan in a graft case by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB).

In this case, other PTI leaders, including Dr Yasmin Rashid and Senator Ejaz Chaudhry, have also been indicted.

Published in Dawn, July 19th, 2024