An anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Lahore has ordered the release of senior PTI leader and former foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi in two cases related to the May 9 arson and rioting incidents.

The directive was issued by ATC Judge Manzar Ali Gul, who instructed the jail superintendent to release Qureshi immediately if he is not wanted in any other case.

It may be recalled that on Monday, the same court had sentenced other PTI leaders, including Dr Yasmin Rashid, Omar Sarfaraz Cheema, Mian Mehmood-ur-Rasheed and Ijaz Chaudhry, to 10 years in prison and imposed a fine of Rs600,000 each. The court also ordered the confiscation of their properties.

While acquitting Shah Mehmood Qureshi in both cases, the court clarified that the release order would only be applicable if he was not in custody in connection with any other case.

These cases pertain to the torching of the Shadman Town police station and an arson incident outside Rahat Bakery in Lahore during the nationwide protests on May 9, 2023.