LAHORE: An Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) on Monday extended the pre-arrest bail of PTI former secretary general Asad Umar, former prime minister Imran Khan`s sisters Uzma Khan and Aleema Khan in multiple cases related to May 9 riots.

The accused appeared before the court, along with their lawyers, seeking extension in their bails.

Asad Umar’s lawyer told the court that the petitioner joined the police investigation in all seven cases against him. He said the investigating officer (IO) should be asked about the progress made in the cases.

A prosecutor told the court that the IO had been admitted to hospital following a cardiac arrest and the record of the cases had been submitted to the Lahore High Court for hearing of bail petitions by some other suspects.

Judge Arshad Javed extended the bail of the suspects till Oct 31 and sought final arguments from their counsel.

Later, Mr Umar told the media persons that all politicians, including Nawaz Sharif and Imran Khan, should be allowed to contest the election. He said the people of Pakistan should decide the fate of the politicians through ballot.

He said Pakistan is Nawaz Sharif’s country as well, and he should return to it, adding that law should take its course when he comes back.

The bail petitions were filed in cases, including attacks on Jinnah House and Askari Tower in Gulberg, besides torching of PML-N offices in Model Town and a container near Kalma Chowk.

REMAND: An ATC on Monday summoned Kot Lakhpat jail superintendent for producing PTI’s Punjab president Dr Yasmin Rashid and Senator Ijaz Chaudhry before it on expiry of their judicial remand, despite a warning.

Judge Abher Gul Khan observed that the jail officials had been directed not to bring the suspects to the court only to get their judicial remand extended.

The jail officials produced Ms Rashid and Senator Chaudhry in the Askari Tower attack case.

The judge also extended judicial remand of PTI social media activist Sanam Javed and others in a case of torching police vehicles near Rahat Bakery Chowk in Cantonment area.

Published in Dawn, October 17th, 2023