LAHORE: Police infor­med an anti-terrorism court on Wednesday that the arrest of PTI founding chairman’s sisters, Aleema Khan and Uzma Khan, was not required in the Corps Commander House attack case, but former senator Azam Khan Swati had been found involved in five cases related to the May 9 riots.

Both sisters of former prime minister Imran Khan appeared before the court upon the expiry of their pre-arrest bail in the violence case. A police official told the court that they were not wanted for arrest in the Jinnah House attack case.

In response, Aleema Khan said the investigation should have been completed a year ago.

Following the police statement, the two sisters sought the court’s permission to withdraw their pre-arrest bail applications.

The court granted the request and disposed of the petitions.

Later speaking to the media, Aleema Khan expressed frustration, stating that due to the unavailability of records, they had to attend court hearings for 20 months, and many people faced punishments because of the investigating officer’s negligence.

Swati ‘found involved’

Separately, a police official told the ATC the investigation had declared that PTI leader Azam Khan Swati was involved in five May 9 cases.

The court directed Mr Swati’s counsel to present arguments for the confirmation of bail. However, Mr Swati said: “I am not feeling well today, and we cannot argue on the bail pleas.” The court observed it was lawyer’s responsibility to present arguments, not the petitioner’s.

When the PTI leader called the cases fabricated, the judge remarked: “Even if the cases are false, you will have to argue.”

Meanwhile, the court also extended the interim pre-arrest bail of Omar Ayub and other PTI leaders in multiple cases related to the May 9 riots.

In a separate case, another court extended the hearing against Shah Mahmood Qureshi in four cases related to the May 9 incidents.

Published in Dawn, February 13th, 2025