Shah Mehmood, Asad Umar seek pre-arrest bail in May 9 case

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Vice-Chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi and former secretary-general Asad Umar have approached Islamabad High Court (IHC) seeking pre-arrest bail in May 9 riots case, ARY News reported.

In separate pleas, both PTI leaders maintained that they want to join the probe in cases registered against them at Tarnol Police Station, Islamabad.

The leader pleaded with the court to accept their pre-arrest bail pleas as the government had lodged cases against them for political reasons.

The PTI leaders moved IHC a day after the district and sessions court in Islamabad dismissed the bail petitions in cases related to May 9 riots.

Judge Tahir Abbasi Supra dismissed the bail petitions of PTI leaders in two separate cases registered at Islamabad’s Tarnol police station.

Following the verdict, Shah Mehmood Qureshi and Asad Umar hurriedly walked towards their vehicle and left the court premises.

The judge took up the bail pleas of Umar and Qureshi, along with that of another suspect, Khan Bahadur, all three of whom were booked in a case registered at Islamabad’s Tarnol police station.

During the hearing, the court order said, the counsel for the petitioners argued that his clients were “innocent” and “falsely involved” in this case.

He contended that the case against them was a result of “mala fide” and an “ulterior motive on part of the complainant and police”.

On these grounds, he prayed the court to accept the bail pleas so that ad-interim pre-arrest bail already granted to their clients may be confirmed.

Meanwhile, public prosecutor contested the counsel’s arguments and sought the dismissal of bail pleas.

After hearing arguments of both sides, the court issued its ruling, observing that the grant of bail at this stage would hamper the process of investigation and dismissed the bail pleas.

It is pertinent to mention here that violent clashes broke out across Pakistan after former prime minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chief was arrested from the Islamabad High Court (IHC) premises on May 9.