LAHORE: An anti-terrorism court on Thursday halted the cross-examination of prosecution witnesses in May 9 Shadman police station attack case till a decision on the defence’s request for an open trial.

Judge Khalid Arshad conducted the hearing of the case at Kot Lakhpat Jail, where former foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, former governor Umar Sarfraz Cheema, Senator Ejaz Chaudhry, former ministers Dr Yasmin Rashid, Mian Mahmoodur Rasheed and other suspects were presented before the court.

As the cross-examination of the prosecution witnesses was scheduled for Thursday, the defence lawyers asked the court for an open trial instead.

The judge remarked that these were delaying tactics.

Mr Qureshi said that they might boycott the proceedings if an open trial was not allowed.

At this, the judge said the application of the defence for an open trial would be decided on July 27.

Shadman police had registered a case against the PTI leaders and activists on charges of attacking and burning the police station during the May 9 riots following the arrest of former premier Imran Khan in a graft case by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB).

Published in Dawn, July 26th, 2024