Lahore (Pakistan News): The Anti-Terrorism Court has extended the interim bail of PTI leaders in the May 9 arson cases until February 13. The hearing was conducted at Kot Lakhpat Jail by Special Anti-Terrorism Court judges Arshad Javed and Manzar Ali Gul. Former Federal Minister Asad Umar, Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Jamshed Cheema, Musarrat Jamshed, Sheikh Imtiaz, and others appeared in court. During the session, Asad Umar and Shah Mahmood Qureshi also held a meeting.
Alima Khan, Azma Khan, Azam Swati, and Fawad Chaudhry filed applications for exemption from attendance, which the court approved. The court extended the interim bail for all accused until February 13 and summoned the lawyers for arguments in the next hearing.
The cases relate to the burning of offices of the PML-N and the torching of a container at Kalma Chowk on May 9. Investigative officers of the JIT have submitted reports declaring Alima Khan, Azma Khan, and other accused guilty.
The accused include Azam Swati, Jamshed Iqbal Cheema, Musarrat Jamshed Cheema, Hafiz Farhat Abbas, Bilal Ejaz, Rai Hassan Nawaz, Ali Imtiaz Warraich, Muhammad Ahmed Chatha, Muhammad Ashraf Sohna, Rai Murtaza Iqbal, and others.
Meanwhile, in the Jinnah House Chowk and Askari Tower arson cases, the court sought arguments from the lawyers of former Governor Omar Sarfraz Cheema and former Provincial Minister Dr. Yasmin Rashid on their bail applications. The court directed the police to submit case records and adjourned the hearing until January 21. The hearing was conducted by ATC Judge Manzar Ali Gul.
