In a recent legal development, the anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Lahore has rejected the bail application of former Punjab health minister Dr. Yasmin Rashid in the case related to the vandalism at the Shadman police station during the May 9 riots.
The decision was made by Judge Arshad Javed, presiding over the hearing. Dr. Yasmin Rashid had been in police custody and was under physical remand in connection with the Shadman police station case. The prosecutor informed the court that new charges had been filed in the case, leading to the dismissal of the bail plea.
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The case stems from events following the arrest of Imran Khan on May 9 in the Al-Qadir Trust case, which resulted in widespread violence and attacks on military installations. The state launched a severe crackdown against the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) as a result. Dr. Yasmin Rashid and other PTI leaders faced court proceedings on serious charges related to the May 9 riots.
LHC Rejects Plea for Social Media Activist
Meanwhile, the Lahore High Court (LHC) has rejected a plea seeking to prevent the arrest of social media activist Sanam Javed in undisclosed cases. The LHC has requested details of the cases registered against Sanam, which are expected to be provided on October 19.
It was revealed that Sanam had been previously arrested by the police but was never produced in court. Subsequently, a writ petition was filed to ascertain her whereabouts, which led to the discovery that she had been arrested under the Maintenance of Public Order (3MPO) regulations and in connection with another case.
The petitioner expressed concerns about the repeated arrests of her client and sought assurances that she would not be arrested again in the future. The LHC, after hearing the case, adjourned the proceedings until October 19 and requested a report from the public prosecutor regarding the situation.
Legal Complexities and Ongoing Cases
The legal landscape surrounding the May 9 riots and related cases remains complex. Additional charges have been added to cases against PTI leaders, including Dr. Yasmin Rashid, under various sections of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC), including sections related to rioting, conspiracy, and promoting enmity between different groups. Joint investigation teams had identified over 900 activists, including former Prime Minister Imran Khan, as prime suspects in several cases.
Dr. Yasmin Rashid has been on physical remand in the Shadman police station attack case. Despite her bail application, the ATC rejected it, deeming it infructuous due to the added charges. The legal battles related to the May 9 riots continue, with PTI leaders facing multiple cases and complex proceedings.