Daily Times

An anti-terrorism court (ATC) on Friday granted bail to the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder in four cases related to the May 9 riots.

ATC Judge Arshad Javed announced the verdict on the bail applications of the PTI founder and directed him to furnish surety bonds of Rs. 500,000 to avail the relief.

During the proceedings, Prosecutor General Punjab Syed Farhad Ali Shah presented arguments on the bail applications, stating that the PTI founder had created a narrative that, if he were arrested, certain actions should be taken. He submitted that party leadership attacked sensitive installations following the PTI founder’s instructions. He argued that the bail applications of the PTI founder’s accomplices were dismissed on similar grounds and requested the court to reject the PTI founder’s bail applications as well.

Subsequently, upon completion of arguments, the court reserved its verdict on the PTI founder’s bail applications. The court also dismissed an application by the PTI founder’s counsel seeking more time for arguments, noting that the counsel had already completed his arguments the previous day, and that repeated arguments would waste time. The court stated that the applications should now be decided.

Later, after a short deliberation, the court announced the verdict, granting bail to the PTI founder in four cases related to the May 9 riots.

Separately, a special court on Friday reserved its verdict on acquittal pleas of PTI founder and Bushra Bibi in Toshakhana II case.

The decision would be announced on November 12.

Special Court’s Judge Shahrukh Arjamand heard the Toshakhana II case with regard to illegal attaining of a Bulgarian jewelry set by the accused.

The court reserved the verdict on acquittal pleas after the two side concluded their arguments.

Earlier, the court postponed the indictment of the two accused in Toshakhana II case. The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has directed the trial court to re-decide the acquittal pleas of the two accused. App

Meanwhile, an anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Rawalpindi on Friday once again deferred the indictment of former prime minister Imran Khan and others accused in the case related to the attack on GHQ Rawalpindi during the unrest on May 9.

Moreover, the Islamabad High Court has directed the Superintendent of Adiala Jail to arrange a meeting for former Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Imran Khan with his party leaders on Tuesday while hearing a contempt petition against jail authorities.