The Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) on Wednesday adjourned hearing without proceeding due to the unavailability of PTI founder and Shah Mehmood Qureshi in the protest-related cases.
Anti-Terrorism Court Judge Tahir Abbas Supra marked the attendance of present accused and adjourned further hearing in case registered by Khanna Police Station.
However, the acquittal application filed by the accused in the case registered in Kohsar police station on October 4 protest could not be presented. The court directed the parties to present arguments at the next hearing and adjourned the hearing until January 8.
During the hearing of the cases registered at Shams Colony police station on Azadi March, no more witness statements could be recorded. The court directed that the witness statements be presented at the next hearing and adjourned the hearing until December 22. Statements of 4 prosecution witnesses have been recorded in the previous hearing of the case.
Senior PTI leader and former foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi was discharged from hospital – where he was admitted for a surgery – and transferred back to Lahore’s Kot Lakhpat prison, his lawyer Rana Mudassar Umer said on Wednesday.
Qureshi was hospitalised last month at the Pakistan Kidney and Liver Institute for gallbladder stone complications, where he underwent a successful procedure to remove the stone.
Umer said he was discharged from the hospital after his condition improved, while tests were conducted, and their reports would be released in 15 days.
The PTI leader has been indicted in multiple cases pertaining to the May 9, 2023, riots and has remained behind bars since August 2023.
Meanwhile, the District & Sessions Court of Islamabad issued arrest warrants for former Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur after he failed to appear in two consolidated cases linked to the Haqiqi Azadi March.