The Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Lahore has dismissed Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Omar Ayub’s interim bail applications in three high-profile cases linked to the May 9 riots.
The cases pertain to attacks on Jinnah House, Askari Tower, and an arson incident at Shadman Police Station. Omar Ayub failed to appear before the court, and his legal team’s request for exemption from personal appearance was also rejected, leading to the dismissal of his bail pleas in all three cases.
Earlier, an ATC in Faisalabad sentenced Omar Ayub, along with PTI leaders Zartaj Gul and Shibli Faraz, to 10 years in prison over the May 9 violence. The verdict, relating to cases registered at Ghulam Muhammadabad and Civil Lines police stations, convicted 108 individuals, while 77 were acquitted.
Those acquitted include Fawad Chaudhry, Zain Qureshi, and Khayal Kastro. PTI MPA Junaid Afzal Sahi was handed a three-year sentence, while Sheikh Rashid Shafiq, SIC head Sahibzada Hamid Raza, and several other PTI leaders received 10-year prison terms.
In the Ghulam Muhammadabad case, 60 of 67 accused were convicted, while in the Civil Lines case, seven individuals were acquitted.
It is noteworthy that on July 22, an ATC in Lahore sentenced Dr. Yasmin Rashid, Mian Mahmoodur Rasheed, and Senator Ejaz Chaudhry to 10 years in prison in another May 9-related case, while acquitting Shah Mahmood Qureshi.