An anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Lahore rejected provisional surety petitions filed by the senior Pakistan Tehreek-E-insaf (PTI), Omar Ayub, in three separate cases linked to the violence of May 9 on Saturday, citing his absence of legal proceedings.
The cases concern attacks against the key properties of the state and military during the riots of May 9, including the very publicized incidents at the Jinnah house in Lahore and the Askari tower.
The ATC judge, Manzar Ali Gul, presided over the hearings and noted the non-exhibition of Ayub to appear before the court as a reason for rejection of his pleas. A request for an exemption from a day of the appearance was also refused.
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Ayub, who was previously the head of the opposition to the National Assembly, had obtained a provisional guarantee in the case but was to continue to appear in court. His non-compliance led to the cancellation of his deposit.
Last month, the Faisalabad ATC sentenced the best PTI leaders, including Ayub, up to 10 years in prison in cases related to May 9 demonstrations.
The head of the opposition in the Senate Shibli Faraz, Zartaj Gul, Mna Sahibzada Hamid Raza and the former Mna Sheikh Rashid Shafiq were among the 108 PTI managers sentenced on 185 individuals involved in business.
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Friday, the National Assembly withdrew three leaders from the PTI of key parliamentary posts following the disqualification of several party legislators.
Ayub was stripped of his position as head of the opposition, Gul lost his role as parliamentary chief, and Ahmad Chattha was deleted as deputy parliamentary chief.
The demonstrations of May 9 – triggered by the arrest of the founder of the PTI, Imran Khan, led a series of violent clashes across the country, with several leaders and supporters of the PTI confronted with accusations linked to anti -terrorist laws. The state has since moved to prosecute people involved in attacks against military and public infrastructure.
