A district and session court in Islamabad accepted on Saturday the bail plea of former federal minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi in a case pertaining to riots May 9. Additional Sessions Judge Syed Haroon Shah granted bail to the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) stalwart in the case registered at Islamabad’s Khanna Pul Station. Qureshi’s lawyer Ali Bukhari presented arguments before the court but the hearing was adjourned for recess before the government lawyer appeared. The PTI leader was present for the hearing. The defense lawyer argued that the allegations against Qureshi were baseless. He maintained that Qureshi was not present on the site of the vandalism nor did he issue any statements. The counsel moved the court to confirm Qureshi’s bail contending that the police were trying to implicate the PTI leader without any evidence. Earlier this week, the Islamabad High Court granted interim bails to Qureshi, Asad Qaiser and Asad Umer in cases related to May 9 vandalism. All three defendants were directed to each submit Rs 500,000 in surety bonds. Qureshi and Umar had appeared before the IHC accompanied by their lawyers.