ATC discharges Asad Umar in five terror cases

Lahore: An Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Lahore on Saturday cleared Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Asad Umar of charges in five terrorism cases linked to the May 9 riots, during which military installations were targeted.

During the hearing, the investigation officer (IO) informed the court that Asad Umar is no longer wanted in the five terrorism cases.

Asad Umar had been implicated in three cases registered at the Sarwar Road police station, as well as one each at the Race Course and Gulberg police stations in Lahore. The cases included Case No. 852/23 at Race Course and Case No. 1283/23 at Gulberg, along with Case No. 97/23, 103/23, and 108/23 at Sarwar Road Police station.

Simultaneously, the Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) rejected Asad Umar's interim bail petition due to his failure to furnish the required surety bonds in cases related to the May 9 violence.

During the previous hearing, the court had instructed Asad to submit surety bonds of Rs100,000 each.

Case No. 97/23 had been registered against Asad and other PTI leaders at the Sarwar Road police station in Lahore for delivering a speech against state institutions at Sherpao Bridge in the city.