LAHORE: An anti-terrorism court on Monday dismissed the applications of incarcerated PTI Vice-Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi and other party leaders challenging their indictment in a May 9 case.

ATC-III Judge Arshad Javed announced the decision on the applications while conducting trial proceedings of multiple cases at Kot Lakhpat jail.

Mr Qureshi, former governor Umar Sarfraz Cheema, PTI-Punjab President Dr Yasmin Rashid, Senator Ejaz Chaudhry, Mian Mahmoodur Rasheed and others had challenged their indictment in the case of burning police vehicles near Sherpao Bridge in Cantonment.

They argued that the process of the indictment had been conducted in an unlawful manner.

A prosecutor, however, argued that the indictment was in accordance with the law. He asked the court to dismiss the applications, stating that the accused wanted to delay the trial proceedings.

The judge adjourned hearings of other cases as prosecution witnesses failed to appear to record their statements, and the prosecutor sought more time to present them.

Separately, ATC-I Judge Manzer Ali Gill adjourned the hearing of Askari Tower attack and burning of police vehicles near Zaman Park till Dec 5.

The judge recorded testimony of two prosecution witnesses in the tower attack while deferred the indictment of the suspects in the Zaman Park case due to absence of Mr Qureshi, who was taken to Adiyala Jail, Rawalpindi, for the hearing of cases against him.

BAIL: An anti-terrorism court on Monday granted interim pre-arrest bail to PTI leader Ghulam Mohyddin Dewan in four cases related to the party’s Oct 5 protest.

Mr Dewan personally appeared before the court along with his counsel.

ATC-III Judge Arshad Javed allowed the bail petitions subject to furnishing surety bonds of Rs500,000 in each case.

Published in Dawn, December 3rd, 2024