The Islamabad High Court (IHC) made a surprising decision on Friday, granting bail to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) senior leaders Shah Mehmood Qureshi and Asad Umar in a case related to the May 9 vandalism. This development comes after a series of violent attacks on sensitive state and military installations following the arrest of the PTI chief on corruption charges.
The aftermath of the attacks led to a severe crackdown on the PTI, with several party leaders and workers being arrested and charged with inciting violence and spreading unrest. In the midst of this chaos, Qureshi and Umar emerged as key leaders who chose to remain with the party, unlike many of their former colleagues who renounced their party memberships.
High Court Grants Bail to Former Ministers Qureshi and Umar Amidst Ongoing Political Drama and Legal Battles
Earlier this week, the two leaders appeared before a local court in connection with the case against them, but their bail plea was denied. In a desperate attempt to avoid arrest, they were seen fleeing the court premises. Concerned about their possible arrest, Qureshi and Umar approached the IHC for bail.
Presided over by Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir, the high court granted bail to the former ministers against surety bonds of Rs100,000 each. The court also directed the police to provide case records until July 10.
It is worth noting that Qureshi and Umar were unable to secure relief from the IHC in the May 9 riot cases the day before due to alleged police interference, preventing their entry into the court premises. The petitioners’ lawyer requested the court to review CCTV footage from the IHC gates, and the court adjourned the hearing, allowing Qureshi and Umar to appear today.
This unexpected turn of events adds further intrigue to the ongoing political drama surrounding the PTI, highlighting the challenges of leadership and the legal battles faced by key party members.