LAHORE: The bail bonds on behalf of former prime minister Imran Khan in three cases relating to the May 9 riots could not be submitted on Saturday as another guarantor left an anti-terrorism court without completing the process.

Advocate Muhammad Habib, the guarantor, appeared before the court to submit papers of three vehicles as surety bonds in as many as cases.

ATC Judge Ijaz Ahmad Buttar asked the guarantor how he would furnish the bonds without the appearance of the petitioner.

The lawyer sought time from the judge to appear along with petitioner Imran Khan. However, he failed to turn up again.

Police allowed to interrogate Yasmin, Rasheed in Shadman police station ransacking case

The other day, the judge also rejected the bail bonds of Imran Khan in the cases as the guarantor showed reluctance to take responsibility for the appearance of the PTI chairman in the trial proceedings.

Judge Buttar had allowed the pre-arrest bail petitions of Mr Khan subject to furnishing bail bonds worth Rs100,000 in each case.

Shehroz, the guarantor, appeared before the court and stated that he was ready to deposit the bonds in cash.

However, the judge turned down the request and asked the guarantor whether he could give an undertaking about the appearance of the ex-premier in future hearings.

The guarantor remained silent and gave no response to the judge`s query.

At this, the judge rejected Mr Khan`s bail bonds with a direction to furnish the same again.

The PTI chief had secured the bail in cases of attacks on Jinnah House and Askari Tower, registered with Shadman police station.

Separately, Judge Buttar on Saturday allowed a request of the police to interrogate PTI leaders Dr Yasmin Rashid and Mian Mahmoodur Rasheed in cases of ransacking Shadman police station during the May 9 violence.

The investigating officer filed two applications seeking the court’s permission to interrogate the PTI leaders, who were in jail on judicial remand in other criminal cases.

The judge allowed the applications and directed the jail officials to produce both leaders in the court on May 29 (tomorrow).

The judge also issued notices to the police and the prosecution on a post-arrest bail petition of Dr Rashid in a case of blocking Sherpao Bridge and hate speech against the state institutions.

The petition filed through Advocate Yousaf Wayne stated that the petitioner was a cancer patient and an elderly woman. It said the police had completed its investigation in the case and there was no justification to keep the petitioner behind bars.

The judge sought replies from the prosecution and the police by May 30.

Published in Dawn, May 28th, 2023