Bushra Bibi discharged in a dozen May 9 cases

FORMER prime minister Imran Khan’s jailed wife Bushra Bibi has been discharged in 12 cases linked to the May 9 riots by an anti-terrorism court (ATC). The riots had taken place on the day when her husband was arrested by the Rangers last year.

Meanwhile, Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb has referred to the chief justice of Islamabad High Court (IHC) a petition seeking details of the cases filed against the former first lady, according to Dawn.com.

While hearing the case against her on Tuesday, ATC Judge Malik Ejaz Asif discharged her in 12 cases related to the riots.

Speaking to media personnel outside the Adiyala jail, Bushra Bibi’s lawyer Salman Safdar said the Rawalpindi police had requested the court for a physical remand; however, the court rejected the request. He said the court’s decision would likely affect the cases against Mr Khan.

In a related development, ATC Judge Nasir Javed Rana dismissed a petition filed by the former first lady that sought a report on an executive board meeting of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB). The petition had said the board had decided to close the inquiry in the Toshakhana case.

NAB’s prosecutors, on the other hand, said the inquiry had been reopened after the investigation team had acquired fresh evidence.