Sheikh Rashid was detained once more during his 11th bail hearing

Shortly after obtaining bail in 11 other connected cases, including the GHQ attack case, Sheikh Rashid, the chairman of the Awami Muslim League (AML), was taken into custody on Tuesday in connection with the May 9 riots.

A day earlier, the court had reserved judgment on the bail requests of twenty-four individuals, including Rashid and three PTI candidates.

In addition to Rashid, Wasiq Qayyum Abbasi, the former deputy speaker of the Punjab Assembly, and other PTI members in cases connected to the riots were granted interim release by ATC Judge Malik Ijaz Asif.

Rashid’s release on bond was contingent upon the provision of a one lakh rupee surety bond.

Advocate Sardar Abdul Razzaq, the AML chief’s attorney, stated earlier today that the confirmation of bail had occurred in two cases, while the remaining ten cases were awaiting a judgment. Because the charges and evidence in the remaining cases were similar, interim bail was expected in each case.

Advocate Razzaq conveyed trust in Judge Ijaz and the other ATC judges’ impartiality and fairness.

The public prosecutor informed the court throughout the hearings that the inquiry was in progress and requested enough time. The court did, however, voice its dissatisfaction with the lack of presentation of the case record and instructed the authorities to finish the investigation and turn in the record by the next date.

In the courtroom were the nephew of the former interior minister. Rashid approached the rostrum, produced a little copy of the Holy Quran, and swore, stating, “I swear by Almighty Allah that I have nothing to do with the events of May 9,” in response to the prosecutors’ request for additional time.

Giving a comment on the Holy Quran in court was deemed inappropriate by the ATC judge. The former interior minister’s attorney took the position that there was insufficient evidence against his client by the prosecution.

“Sheikh Rashid and Rashid Shafiq’s names were added to these instances without any justification. The prosecution has thus far requested four extensions, but they are not yet prepared to make their case. Every time a date is set, more time is shaved off with a new justification,” Rashid’s attorney affirmed.

In relation to the May 9 disturbances, Rashid and his nephew Rashid Shafique were named in 12 counts. To finish the inquiry, Rashid’s arrest had been requested by all ten police stations.

May 9 riots are attacks on state installations that occurred in the previous year after Imran Khan, the chairman of the Pakistan Terrorism Institute at the time, was arrested for corruption. Among the targets of the strike were the corps commander’s residence in Lahore and the army’s General Headquarters located in Rawalpindi.

In the past, the court ATC granted Rashid and his nephew temporary bail extensions in connection with attacks on GHQ, the army museum, intelligence agency offices, and a metro bus station.