LAHORE: An anti-terrorism court on Thursday extended the pre-arrest bail of jailed PTI founder Imran Khan in three cases of May 9 riots.

ATC-III Judge Arshad Javed took up the petitions, but adjourned the hearing without any progress due to unavailability of the petitioner’s lead counsel.

An associate of Barrister Salman Safdar told the judge that the counsel was busy before the Islamabad High Court and could not make it to Lahore. He requested the judge to grant a short adjournment.

The judge allowed the request and adjourned the hearing till April 4 and also extended the bail of the former prime minister in cases of attack on the Jinnah House, Askari Tower and Shadman police station.

The judge on March 1 had confirmed the pre-arrest bail of Khan in four other cases, including the murder of Zille Shah, attack on police outside Zaman Park, torching offices of the PML-N in Model Town and a container at Kalma Chowk on May 9, 2023.

An ATC on Aug 11, 2023, dismissed the pre-arrest bail of the PTI founding chairman in seven criminal cases over his non-appearance after he was jailed following his conviction in Toshakhana case.

Later, the Lahore High Court, on a petition by Khan, set aside the decision of the ATC and restored his bail petitions.

The high court directed the trial court to decide the bail petitions afresh on merit.

Published in Dawn, March 29th, 2024