LAHORE: An anti-terrorism court (ATC) on Monday initiated the process of declaring 22 Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) workers and leaders including former ministers and sisters of party chief Imran Khan proclaimed offenders (POs) in the corps commander house attack case.

The court directed the prosecution to publish a proclamation in the national newspapers for the appearance of the suspects on Aug 16.

The investigating officer of the Sarwar Road police station filed an application, requesting the court to start the process to declare the suspects POs for not joining the investigation and the judicial proceedings. The suspects include former federal ministers Hammad Azhar, Farrukh Habib, Murad Saeed, Azam Khan Swati and Ali Amin Gandapur, former provincial minister Mian Aslam Iqbal and Zubair Niazi. PTI chief Imran Khan’s sisters Aleema Khan and Aleema Khan are also on the list of suspects.

In the application, the investigating officer informed the judge that the suspects had not surrendered before the court despite issuance of their non-bailable warrants. He also explained that the police remained unable to arrest them.

ATC extends judicial remand of Yasmin Rashid, Omar Cheema till Aug 7

Judicial remand extended

Meanwhile, an ATC extended the judicial remand of PTI Punjab chapter president Dr Yasmin Rashid and former governor Omar Sarfraz Cheema in the May 9 violence-related cases for two weeks.

The police produced both leaders before the court after bringing them from jail.

The investigating officer told the court that the investigation report against the suspects was in its final stage but more time was needed to complete it.

The counsel for Dr Rashid, Rana Mudassar Umer, said the police had failed to submit challan even after the passage of 76 days, whereas it was required to submit challan within 14 days. He argued that the delay in submission of the challan was actually aimed at political victimisation and a bid to keep Dr Rashid in jail. He said the government also seemed unable to even “fabricate” challan in any case just because there was no evidence.

Judge Abher Gul Khan adjourned the hearing till Aug 7, with the directive to the police to ensure submission of the challans.

Dr Rashid was produced in the cases pertaining to the attacks on corps commander house, Askari Tower, Shadman police station and PML-N office in Model Town.

Published in Dawn, July 25th, 2023