Lahore/Islamabad, June 21, 2025: In a significant legal development for Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), the Lahore Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) on Saturday granted bail to PTI Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi in the May 9 Shadman arson case, while a court in Islamabad acquitted several senior PTI leaders in protest-related cases.
The bail was granted by ATC Judge Manzar Ali Gill during a hearing held at Kot Lakhpat Jail, where Qureshi has been detained. The decision followed detailed arguments submitted by his legal team, including Rana Muddasir Umar and Barrister Taimoor Malik. Qureshi had filed the bail petition several months ago in connection with the Shadman incident.
This is the latest in a series of favorable rulings for PTI leaders. Earlier, the same ATC granted bail to former Punjab Governor Omar Sarfraz Cheema in the same case.
Meanwhile in Islamabad, Judicial Magistrate Shehzad Khan of the District and Sessions Court acquitted several senior PTI figures of protest and vandalism charges stemming from demonstrations held on April 26, 2024. The protests were staged in response to alleged rigging in the general elections.
The acquitted leaders include PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, former federal minister Omar Ayub, Ali Bukhari, Shoaib Shaheen, Amir Dogar, Malik Rafiq, and Amir Mughal. The rally had originated from the office of Shoaib Shaheen and proceeded toward the Karachi Company area of Islamabad.
The court had earlier reserved its judgment after concluding arguments from the defense counsel. The acquittals pertain to charges filed under FIR No. 498 registered at the Karachi Company police station.
These rulings provide much-needed legal relief to PTI leadership amid a series of ongoing trials related to the political unrest and demonstrations that erupted across the country over the past year.
