LAHORE: An anti-terrorism court on Friday extended pre-arrest bail of former prime minister Imran Khan in seven cases of May 9 riots till Feb 10.

The court extended the bail without any proceedings as the attendance of the incarcerated PTI founding chairman could not be marked from Adiala Jail on a video link.

ATC-I Judge Naveed Iqbal heard the bail petitions in three cases of attack on Jinnah House, Askari Tower and Shadman police station.

ATC-III Judge Arshad Javed took up the petitions for bail in four cases, including attack on party offices of the PML-N in Model Town, torching a container at Kalma Chowk, and violence outside Zaman Park.

An ATC had on Aug 11, 2023, dismissed the pre-arrest bail of Khan over his non-appearance as he was jailed following his conviction in Toshakhana case.

Later, a high court two-judge bench, on a petition of Khan, set aside the decision by the ATC and restored his bail petitions.

The bench had directed the trial court to decide all bail petitions on merit.

Published in Dawn, February 10th, 2024