LAHORE: An anti-terrorism court on Tuesday issued notices to prosecution and police on petitions of PTI founder and former prime minister Imran Khan against 12 cases related to May 9 riots.
The petitions have been filed after the Lahore High Court quashed the physical remand of the former prime minister in the cases including an attack on the residence of Lahore’s corps commander.
Associates of Barrister Salman Safdar, the lead counsel for Mr Khan, appeared before the court and requested the judge to issue notices to respondents on the petitions. They said Barrister Safdar would personally appear at the next hearing to advance arguments.
Judge Khalid Arshad issued notices to the police and prosecution for Aug 6.
The petitions pleaded that the police failed to produce any evidence against the petitioner.
It said the LHC set aside the physical remand of the petitioner in the cases as the prosecution had no evidence on the record.
Last week, a two-judge bench of LHC had allowed a petition of Mr Khan quashing his physical remand in a dozen cases of May 9 riots.
“We are afraid the learned judge has failed to consider/discuss any incriminating material available with the prosecution constituting the offence of abetment against the accused/petitioner necessitating his physical remand,” the bench observed in its written order.
On July 15, an ATC had granted a 10-day physical remand of Imran Khan to a JIT of the police.
The prosecution had not presented Mr Khan physically before the ATC, and made him attend the proceedings through a video call from Adiala jail, Rawalpindi.
However, Mr Khan challenged his remand before the LHC which set aside the trial court order.
Other cases against the PTI founder include attack on Askari Tower, burning of Shadman police station and police vehicles near Rahat Bakery in Cantonment area.
Published in Dawn, July 31st, 2024
