The Anti-Terrorism Court in Kot Lakhpat Jail of Lahore formally charged Qureshi, who was brought to the jail from Adiala jail in Rawalpindi under tight security. The case involves the burning down of a police station during the May 9 violence last year.
Qureshi has been in prison since he and Imran Khan, the PTI founder, were sentenced by a Pakistani court to 10 years in jail for violating the Official Secrets Act. However, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) on June 3 acquitted Khan and Qureshi in the Cipher case, suspending their 10-year sentence.
The court had summoned Qureshi to initiate indictment proceedings against him and ordered him to present witnesses in the next hearing scheduled for July 22. Qureshi’s indictment is a significant development in the case, which has been ongoing for over a year.
The May 9 violence was a turning point in Pakistan’s political landscape, with PTI supporters clashing with police and damaging public property. The incident led to the arrest of several PTI leaders, including Qureshi and Khan.
Qureshi’s indictment has sparked a strong reaction from PTI supporters, who have denounced the move as politically motivated. The party has vowed to challenge the indictment in higher courts and has accused the government of attempting to silence its leaders.
The case is likely to have significant implications for Pakistan’s political landscape, with the government facing pressure to justify the indictment of a prominent opposition leader. The outcome of the case will be closely watched by political analysts and supporters of both the government and PTI.
