Asad Umar gets relief from ATC

LAHORE: An Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) on Saturday cleared Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Asad Umar of charges in five terrorism cases stemming from the May 9 riots, which included attacks on military installations.

During the hearing, the investigation officer (IO) confirmed that Asad Umar is no longer a suspect in these five terrorism cases. Asad Umar was previously implicated in three cases filed at Sarwar Road police station and one each at Race Course and Gulberg police stations in Lahore.

The cases were identified as Case No. 852/23 (Race Course), Case No. 1283/23 (Gulberg), and Case No. 97/23, 103/23, 108/23 (Sarwar Road Police Station).

However, ATC rejected the interim bail petition of PTI leader Asad Umar due to his failure to submit the required surety bonds in cases linked to the May 9 violence.

Read more: Cipher case: PTI chairman’s bail plea adjourned till Sept 4

In a separate development, the hearing on the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chairman’s bail application in the cipher case was adjourned till September 4.

Judge of the court established under the Special Secrets Act Abul Hasnaat Zulqarnain conducted a hearing on the PTI chairman’s bail application in the cipher case.