ATC Rejects Bail Pleas Of Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Two Other PTI Leaders In May-9 Case

Mohammad Ali (@ChaudhryMAli88) Published July 11, 2025 | 09:59 PM

An anti-terrorism court (ATC) on Friday rejected the bail applications of three senior Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders — Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Umar Sarfraz Cheema, and Mian Mehmoodur Rasheed — in a case related to the arson of police vehicles near Jinnah House during the May 9 riots

LAHORE, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 11th Jul, 2025) An anti-terrorism court (ATC) on Friday rejected the bail applications of three senior Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders — Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Umar Sarfraz Cheema, and Mian Mehmoodur Rasheed — in a case related to the arson of police vehicles near Jinnah House during the May 9 riots.

ATC Judge Manzer Ali Gill conducted proceedings on the post-arrest bail applications and announced the verdict on completion of arguments from both sides.

During the hearing, the defence counsel argued that the allegations of torching vehicles were baseless and requested the court to grant post-arrest bail to the accused.

However, a prosecutor opposed the bail, stating that the trial proceedings were underway at a fast pace and a final judgment was expected soon. He urged the court to reject the bail pleas at this stage.

The PTI leaders are accused of involvement in setting police vehicles on fire near the Jinnah House, a key incident in the violent protests that erupted following the arrest of the PTI founder on May 9, 2023. Sarwar Road police had registered the case in this regard.