LAHORE: An anti-terrorism court (ATC) on Monday declared charge sheets in 11 cases pertaining to May 9 riots ‘incomplete’ and directed the prosecution to resubmit them after removing deficiencies.
The prosecution had on Sept 28 submitted the challans against PTI leaders and workers, declaring them guilty of the offences mentioned in the FIRs of attack on the corps commander house and other cases.
ATC Judge Abher Gul Khan observed that prosecution had failed to attach statements of several witnesses and reports of photogrammetric tests of suspects with the challans.
Joint investigation teams conducted probe into May 9 cases and declared PTI Chairman Imran Khan and over 900 other party leaders and activists guilty of all the offences mentioned in FIRs.
The prosecution alleged that violent protests led by the suspects on May 9 were part of a planned conspiracy against the state. Over “400 pieces of video evidence, including speeches of the PTI chairman, proved that the attacks on military installations and premises in cantonment areas were pre-planned”, it stated.
Prosecution directed to resubmit challans with missing documents
Charges of mutiny and waging war against the state have been included in these cases and reports from the FIA and intelligence agencies have been attached with the challans. As many as 368 suspects, including party leaders, have been booked in the corps commander house attack case alone.
Replies sought on Khadija’s plea
On the other hand, the Lahore High Court sought replies from the Punjab police chief and others on a petition filed by fashion designer Khadija Shah seeking details of all cases registered against her.
Justice Ali Baqar Najafi heard initial arguments of the counsel for the petitioner, who is on judicial remand in multiple cases related to the May 9 riots. He directed a law officer to submit replies on behalf of the respondents on Tuesday (today).
Advocate Sameer Khosa, counsel for the petitioner, argued that she had been falsely implicated by police in the cases as she did not commit any unlawful act on May 9. He said the petitioner had a right to know if there are any cases made against her to have a fair trial.
Published in Dawn, October 10th, 2023
