Yasmin Rashid, a leader of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, was discharged from the Jinnah House attack case following her arrest in connection with the violent protests that took place on May 9.
An anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Lahore announced the verdict on Saturday, rejecting the police’s request for her physical remand.
The investigating officer had sought a 14-day physical remand for Dr. Rashid to conduct photogrammetry, voice match tests, and recover mobile phones. However, a review of the case record revealed that Dr. Rashid was neither named in the First Information Report (FIR) nor implicated through any supplementary statements.
Dr. Rashid was summoned in connection with the case based on information provided by co-accused individuals, which holds no “evidentiary value in the eye of the law.”
The court order stated that since there was no incriminating material to connect her with the offence, the investigating officer’s request was denied, and she was discharged from the case. The order also directed her immediate release if she is not required in any other case.
Dr. Rashid was arrested by Lahore police on May 17 under Section 3 of the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) following nationwide violent protests. Multiple cases were filed against her at different police stations in Lahore, including Sarwar Road, Gulberg, and Shadman, with charges related to terrorism and other serious offenses. Last week, she was sent to jail on a 14-day judicial remand by the anti-terrorism court.
The violent protests that took place over nearly three days saw PTI supporters and workers allegedly attacking and ransacking public and military installations, including Jinnah House and the General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi.
In response to these incidents, several PTI leaders and lawmakers, including Shireen Mazari, Fawad Chaudhry, Mahmood Moulvi, Aftab Siddiqui, Fayyazul Hassan Chohan, and Ali Zaidi, publicly condemned the attacks on state installations and announced their departure from the former ruling party since the May 9 vandalism.
