PTI Secretary-General Salman Akhran Raja stated on Tuesday that Shah Mehmood Qureshi will continue to follow the instructions of the party founder, Imran Khan, following his release, and will not act independently.
Shah Mehmood Qureshi was granted bail in the 9th May cases by the Anti-Terrorism Code. However, there are six more cases involving Shah Mahmood Qureshi regarding May 9th.
Speaking to the media near Adiala Jail, he said: “Only the founder’s word holds weight within the party.”
However, he refused to speculate and comment on Shah Mahmood Qureshi’s future role in the party, stating that no decision would be made without the orders from Imran Khan. Salman Akhim Raja’s comment came after an anti-terrorism court in Lahore issued two separate release warrants for Shah Mahmood Qureshi, addressing the Superintendent of Central Jail, Court Lakhpat.
The senior PTI leader had been acquitted on August 11 in connection with cases linked to the May 9 riots, which followed the arrest of Imran Khan. He also clarified that talking about the 14th August protest, he talked about that PTI’s 14th August program is not a political protest, but it is a celebration of Pakistan’s independence, where our supporters will also express solidarity with the party and its founder.
He criticized the current political climate, claiming that Pakistan’s judicial system lacks independence and that the political freedoms guaranteed under the constitution are not being upheld. The PTI leader described the legal proceedings against parties, against workers as unjust, often reliant on repetitive evidence and political testimony.
Read more: India’s Waning Strategic Value: U.S. Recalibration and the South Asian Balance
ATC Judge Manzar Ali Gil issued two separate warrants of release in connection with two different FIRs. Qureshi had been acquitted on August 11 in these cases, which were registered against him following the 9 May riots, which erupted after the arrest of the founding chairman of PTI, Imran Khan.
Judge Gill, issuing the separate arrest warrants, arrested the Superintendent of Central Jail Court, Lakhpat, stating, “This is to authorise and require you, the superintendent of the jail, to release the accused Shah Mehmood Qureshi from this case forthwith if he is not required by you in any other case.”