PTI Chairman nominated as prime accused in May 9 cases

LAHORE: Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaaf Chairman was nominated as the prime accused in a challan submitted before an anti-terrorism court on Thursday pertaining to 11 cases registered following the May 9 riots.

The challan, pertaining to incidents of vandalism at the Lahore Corps Commander’s House (Jinnah House), Askari Tower, Shadman Police Station and Sherpao Bridge during nationwide protests that broke out following Imran’s arrest on May 9 by the paramilitary Rangers, nominates the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chief and other party leaders as prime accused.

PTI chief, founding party member and former Punjab governor Omar Sarfaraz Cheema, former provincial ministers Mian Mehmoodur Rashid and Dr Yasmeen Rashid, fashion designer Khadija Shah and Sanam Javed, are among the accused named in the challan.

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PTI Chairman was arrested on May 9 from the premises of the Islamabad High Court (IHC), where he had appeared for proceedings related to the Al-Qadir Trust case. Nationwide protests broke out shortly after his arrest with rioters attacking key government and military installations, among other acts of vandalism.

The state has since rounded up thousands of PTI leaders and workers with a majority of them hailing from Punjab. Scores of them, including the prime accused in the challan submitted today (Thursday), remain incarcerated while at least 102 suspects are currently detained in military custody pending trials under the Pakistan Army Act read with the Official Secrets Act – both of which were amended earlier this year.