KARACHI: The Sindh High Court on Tuesday granted bail to 24 workers and supporters of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) in cases relating to May 9 riots.

A division bench of the SHC headed by Justice Naimatullah Phulpoto observed that apparently, there were no reasonable grounds to believe that the applicants had committed the alleged offences, but there were sufficient grounds for further inquiry into their guilt.

While allowing bail applications of two dozen workers and supporters of the PTI against a surety bond of Rs100,000 each, the bench further said that as per the investigating officers of the cases, the applicants were no more required for investigation as interim reports had already been submitted before the court concerned.

“In such a situation, it would be better to keep an accused person on bail then in the jail during the trial,” the bench in its order added.

The suspects, through their lawyers, moved the SHC after the trial court had dismissed their post-arrest bail applications.

The applicants along with several party leaders and workers have been booked and arrested in the cases lodged at the Ferozabad, Tipu Sultan and other police stations for allegedly staging violent protests on the main Sharea Faisal and other parts of the city, blocking the thoroughfare, resorting to rioting and causing damage to the government and private property following the arrest of former prime minister and PTI chairman Imran Khan on the premises of Islamabad High Court on May 9.

Published in Dawn, August 16th, 2023