LAHORE: Announcing a reserved verdict, a Lahore High Court division bench on Wednesday dismissed a Punjab government appeal seeking cancellation of bails granted by an anti-terrorism court to around 87 suspects involved in Joseph Colony's arson attack.

The bench comprising Justice Shahid Hameed Dar and Justice Ali Baqar Najafi had reserved the judgment on Tuesday after the defence and prosecution concluded their arguments.

Punjab prosecution department had filed the appeal saying the trial court released the suspects ignoring facts of the tragic incident. It said hundreds of Christian community's homes were burnt and the incident had tarnished the image of the country in the world. The department urged the court to withdraw the bails granted to the suspects by the trial court.

Counsel for the suspects argued that the police had implicated them in the case only to show performance. The counsel said the police had failed to produce any evidence against them before the trial court. He asked the court to dismiss the government's appeal.