LAHORE: An anti-terrorism court (ATC) on Wednesday gr­­a­­nted post-arrest bail to Shah­rez Khan, a nephew of incarcerated PTI founder Imran Khan, in a case linked to the May 9 riots.

ATC-I Judge Manzer Ali Gill allowed the bail subject to furnishing surety bonds of Rs100,000.

During the hearing, the cou­nsel for the petitioner argued that his client had been accu­sed of inciting workers, but the police investigation, including geo-fencing of all individuals in the case, had found no evidence against him.

He pointed out that the cha­rge-sheet mentioned both nominated and unidentified suspects in the attack on the Laho­­re corps commander’s residen­­ce, but the petitioner’s name was not included, adding that the investigating officer had not recorded any statement implicating his client.

The counsel alleged that the petitioner was implicated in the case on political grounds.

He also questioned the police claim of recovering a danda (club) from the petitioner’s custody after a delay of 28 months, adding that no officer had summoned him for investigation during that period.

Opposing the plea, a prosecutor argued that photographs of Shahrez Khan had been obtained from his friends’ Facebook accounts and requested the court to dismiss the bail petition.

After hearing arguments from both sides, the judge reserved the verdict.

Later in the evening, the judge announced the decision allowing the bail petition.

Published in Dawn, September 4th, 2025