‘Judge Threat Case’: Court adjourns hearing against PTI founder over pending IHC reply

• Islamabad court defers proceedings till Feb 10 pending legal clarification
• ATC Lahore adjourns Shah Mahmood Qureshi’s May 9 bail pleas to Jan 19

ISLAMABAD: A District and Sessions Court of Islamabad on Wednesday took up a case related to an alleged threat made to a woman judge, registered against the founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), but deferred further proceedings due to the non-receipt of a response from the Islamabad High Court (IHC).

The hearing was held at the District and Sessions Courts, Islamabad, and presided over by Civil Judge Mian Azhar Nadeem.

During the proceedings, the court observed that a reply to a letter addressed to the Islamabad High Court—seeking clarification on certain legal points raised in the case—had not yet been received. In view of the pending response, the court decided not to proceed with the matter at this stage.

Following brief proceedings, the court adjourned the hearing until February 10, directing that the case be taken up again on the next date once the required response from the IHC is available.

The case originates from a First Information Report (FIR) registered at Margalla Police Station, pertaining to allegations of issuing threats to a woman judge during judicial proceedings.

Shah Mahmood Qureshi’s bail pleas in May 9 cases adjourned

In a related development, the Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) Lahore on Wednesday adjourned the hearing on post-arrest bail applications filed by former foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi in two cases linked to the May 9 arson and vandalism incidents.

ATC Judge Manzer Ali Gill presided over the hearing. Shah Mahmood Qureshi was represented by Advocate Rana Mudassar Umar, while the prosecution sought additional time to submit the complete record of the cases.

Counsel for the accused contended that the prosecution was deliberately delaying the bail proceedings by repeatedly seeking adjournments. However, accepting the prosecution’s request, the court adjourned the hearing on the bail applications until January 19.

Shah Mahmood Qureshi has filed bail petitions in cases registered over the burning of police vehicles near Mughalpura and the Jinnah House. He has already been acquitted in five other cases related to the May 9 incidents.