LAHORE: Pakistan’s jailed former foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi was on Sunday implicated by police in eight more cases in connection with the unprecedented unrest that erupted following the arrest of former prime minister Imran Khan on corruption charges on May 9, 2023, according to media reports on Monday.
The 67-year-old Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader has been convicted in various cases and is currently lodged in Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi.
According to a Geo News report, a special police team on Sunday sought permission from an anti-terrorism court in Lahore to arrest, interrogate and summon Qureshi based on an FIR registered at Sarwar Road police station.
However, the court denied the request citing “security reasons” and instead allowed investigators to visit Adiala Jail within three days and question the former foreign minister.
“The defendant shall be deemed to be in physical custody for that purpose,” the court order states.
Riots broke out across much of the country after Khan was arrested on May 9 last year in connection with a £190 million settlement case. Hundreds of PTI officials and senior figures were arrested for their involvement in violence and attacks on key military installations.
A special court set up under the Official Secrets Act sentenced Qureshi to 10 years in prison along with jailed former prime minister Khan in the code (secret diplomatic communications) case.
During the protests on May 9, miscreants targeted civilian and military installations including Jinnah House and General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi.
The military called the May 9 riots a “Black Day” and decided to try protesters under the Army Act.
Reacting to police implicating Qureshi in more cases, the PTI spokesman said courts have already granted bail to the former ruling party deputy chairman in these cases.
“The law has once again been ignored to keep Qureshi in jail, effectively nullifying the court order,” he said.
The spokesman said Qureshi was being punished for adhering to the ideology of the PTI founder, adding that lawlessness in the country has reached new heights.
Published May 27, 2024 11:39 IST
