An anti-terrorism court (ATC) of Lahore has reserved a verdict on bail petitions of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan under three May 9 cases including the attack over Jinnah House. The reserved verdict will be announced on July 9, 2024. The ATC Judge has decided these cases after the petitioner and government’s lawyers have completed their arguments, but has reserved the verdict till the said date.
Sarwar Road police registered a case against leaders and workers of PTI for attacking the said House on May 9 last year in protest against the arrest of former prime minister Imran Khan. Earlier, the ATC extended the interim bail of Khan in the three cases including of the Jinnah House. The ATC duty judge Khalid Arshad heard the interim bail pleas. The court also ordered to mark the attendance of Khan in the three cases via video link from Adiala jail.
Violent clashes broke out across Pakistan after Imran Khan was arrested at the Islamabad High Court (IHC). The protests were held in remote and major cities as the party workers were agitated due to his arrest. Army installations and the Jinnah House were set on fire.
Earlier the state prosecutor – Rao Abdul Jabbar – giving his arguments in the court last Saturday said the attack on the Jinnah House Lahore which also served as the residence of Lahore’s corps commander, was taken as part of an organized conspiracy. He argued that the attack in question on May 9 was a serious crime. He concluded his arguments against the bail petitions of several PTI workers and leaders. The petitioners also include Senator Ejaz Chaudhry, former governor Omar Sarfraz Cheema, and former provincial minister Mian Mahmoodur Rasheed. He said everyone present during the attack and who chanted slogans, created an environment of burning, and assisted in any way were guilty. He said the leaders who incited arson via phone or social media should be punished.
The prosecutor cited the 9/11 attacks in the US, stating that everyone involved in the planning, execution, and aiding of the World Trade Center attack was punished. Those who assisted, provided information, broke locks, or helped the robbers flee in a bank robbery are punished, the state prosecutor added.
(By Rana Kashif)
