Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) may have gotten a rare wave of legal relief this weekend as judges in Islamabad and Lahore dropped charges in protests and gave bail in riot cases from May 9. The two wins will offer the party a break from its ongoing legal problems.
Islamabad Court Clears Important People
On Saturday, an Islamabad court’s Judicial Magistrate Shahzad Ahmed cleared a group of PTI leaders, including Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, Opposition Leader Omar Ayub, Ali Bukhari, Shoaib Shaheen, Amir Dogar, Amir Mughal, and others, of two protest-related cases filed at the Karachi Company Police Station.
These FIRs came from protests on April 26, 2024, that were said to have broken Section 144 and other rules. The court agreed with the defence that the FIRs were filed by people who weren’t involved and had no legal basis. It also noted that other people had previously been released throughout the investigation.
Lahore ATC Gives Bail in May 9 Riot Case
At the same time, Judge Manzer Ali Gill of the Lahore Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) gave former Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi bail after he was arrested in connection with the May 9, 2023, attack on the Shadman Police Station. Qureshi got bail for Rs100,000, and the case over the burning of police cars was put on hold until June 26.
His lawyers said that Qureshi wasn’t in Lahore at the time of the supposed crime; instead, he was in Karachi taking care of his sick wife. Counsel further said that there was no direct evidence linking Qureshi to any violent acts or conspiracies.
Why the Timing is Important for PTI
These court openings come at a bad time for PTI, which has had several high-ranking figures involved in cases relating to huge rallies and suspected violence. These decisions give a party a brief break from the political chaos and a time to recover.
Lawyers think that quick bail and acquittals mean that some judges are looking closely at the evidence and maybe even fighting politically driven cases.
Wider Reactions and Next Steps
PTI leaders saw the rulings as proof that the courts are fair. Barrister Gohar and Omar Ayub, who are still in formal detention, said they were sure that justice would be served in other instances that are still open. Qureshi’s uncompromising approach shows that he plans to fight further FIRs and get back into politics after his legal commitments are met.
Government sources said that investigations will go on without interference and that charges will be brought if new information comes to light. People are talking about selective prosecution during times of political unrest because of the timing and pattern of the dismissals.
Last Point of View
The recent court decisions that helped PTI leaders are a very important time for the law to be rethought. For the party, it gives them a short but vital break, letting significant people go back to talking about politics and getting ready for the next big political events.
But the bigger concern is still there: can the courts keep working fairly when cases are politically charged? The answer might benefit PTI’s future, both in court and on Pakistan’s rough political playing field.
