LAHORE: An anti-terrorism court (ATC) on Monday directed the lawyers for former foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi and other suspects to cross-examine the prosecution witnesses in the Shadman Police Station attack case.

Mr Qureshi and other jailed suspects, including Dr Yasmin Rashid, Omar Sarfraz Cheema and Senator Ejaz Chaudhry, were produced before the makeshift court at the Kot Lakhpat Jail where ATC-I Judge Khalid Arshad conducted the trial proceedings.

During the hearing, the former foreign minister asked the court to hold an open trial in the case. He said the open trial was his fundamental right. He said the public should know about the allegations and evidence against him and other suspects.

The judge observed the provincial government notified jail proceedings in the case. He said the court would look into the matter if the lawyers of the suspects made a formal and written request for open trial.

The judge adjourned the hearing till July 25.

The police had shifted Mr Qureshi from Adiala Jail, Rawalpindi to Kot Lakhpat Jail for the hearing of multiple cases of May 9 riots against him. The police had told the court that frequent transportation of the suspect from Rawalpindi to Lahore was not feasible due to security reasons.

Mr Qureshi had requested the ATC to mark his attendance via video link from Adiala Jail, however, the court had turned down the request.

Shadman police had registered a case against PTI leaders and activists on charges of attacking and burning the police station on May 9 last year, following the arrest of former premier Imran Khan in a graft case by NAB.

Published in Dawn, July 23rd, 2024