LAHORE: An anti-terrorism court is set to indict former foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, former governor Omar Sarfraz Cheema, Dr Yasmin Rashid, Senator Ejaz Chaudhry, Mian Mahmoodur Rasheed and others on Oct 30 in a case of May 9 riots.

On Wednesday, the PTI leaders were presented before the court from jail for the hearing of six cases, including attacks on police vehicles in Gulberg, PML-N office in Model Town, violence at Sherpao Bridge and burning a con-tainer at Kalma Chowk.

The suspects released on bail including fashion designer Khadija Shah also appearedbefore the court.

However, PTI social media activist Sanam Javed, who is also on bail, once again skipped the hearing.

Her lawyer filed an application for one-time exemption from personal appearance, saying the suspect was ill.

Judge Arshad Javed dismissed the application, noting that an arrest warranthad alreadybeenissued againstthe suspect for not appearing at previous hearings.

The judge said a request for exemption cannot be filed when an arrest warranthad already been issued.

The judge asked the suspect`s counsel that no medical certificate had been filed to prove the plea of illness.

A prosecutor told the court that copies of challan (charge sheet) had been distributed among the suspects in the case of violence at Sherpao Bridge.

The judge adjourned the hearing of all the six cases till Oct 30 and summoned the suspects for indictment in the case.

TALK: Incarcerated former foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said rushing through a constitutional amendment will harm the country, but the government isattempting to impose it by force.

In a brief conversation with the journalists after his appearance in the court, he said a constitutional amendment brought about through coercion and pressure would be unconstitutional.

Mr Qureshi said the government did not even consider the viewpoint of the legal fraternity.

He alleged that the parliamentarians of the PTI are being pressured and the sanctity of four walls has been violated by the government.

He said the ban on meeting PTI`s founding chairman Imran Khan is inappropriate and that his family should be allowed to visit him in jail.