May 9 cases: Bushra Bibi surrenders before court

RAWALPINDI: Bushra Bibi, wife of Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan, has surrendered herself before the Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Rawalpindi regarding 32 cases linked to the May 9 incidents.

Bushra Bibi arrived at the ATC along with her lawyer Mohammad Faisel Malik and filed for bail.

ATC judge Anjad Ali Shah accepted the interim bail plea in all 32 cases and also stopped the authorities from arresting her before January 13 in the November 24 and 25 cases and has sought records from the interrogating officer. 

The court adjourned the hearing till January 13.

After the adjournment of the case, Bushra Bibi left the court premises.

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The cases stem from events that took place during the violent protests last year after paramilitary Rangers arrested Imran Khan from the Islamabad High Court (IHC) in a corruption case.

Videos of rioting and vandalism at several locations, including the Lahore Corps Commander residence and the General Headquarters in Rawalpindi, flooded social media during the unrest.

BUSHRA BIBI’S PREVIOUS CASES

Earlier in December, a sealed First Information Report (FIR) regarding the deaths of Rangers personnel during a Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) protest in Islamabad surfaced, accusing former prime minister Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi and other party leaders of orchestrating and executing the plan that led to the triple murder. At least three Rangers personnel were killed in a hit-and-run incident on Srinagar Highway on October 26. The FIR had been registered against the PTI leaders at the Ramna Police Station in Islamabad.

In the same week, Bushra Bibi alongside PTI founder Imran Khan was indicted in Toshakhana II case. Following the proceedings in the special central court, both the former premier and the former first lady denied the charges. Both the accused, were produced in the court as well. The FIA had also requested the court to rescind the bail of Bushra Bibi on account of her failure to appear in the court during previous hearings. She was granted bail on October 23 against a surety bond of Rs1 million.