ISLAMABAD (PEN) : An Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Rawalpindi has extended interim bail for Bushra Bibi, the wife of former Prime Minister Imran Khan, in connection with the November 26 protest incidents. The court has also called for the challans (charge sheets) in all related cases ahead of the next hearing, now scheduled for July 10.
Bail Extension and Next Hearing
Judge Amjad Ali Shah presided over 12 cases, noting Bushra Bibi’s absence but registering her attendance through a court-issued notice. The hearing has been adjourned to July 10, at which time police challans for each case must be produced. Both prosecution and defense counsels have been summoned to submit their arguments during the upcoming session.
Separate ATC Cases: GHQ Attack and May 9 Riots
In a parallel development, virtual hearings in separate ATC cases—concerning the GHQ attack and May 9 riots—have been deferred until July 3.
LHC Verdict on Imran Khan’s Bail Pleas
Earlier this week, the Lahore High Court (LHC) rejected bail petitions submitted by Imran Khan in eight different cases connected to the May 9, 2023 events. A two-member bench, led by Justice Syed Shahbaz Ali Rizvi, noted the following during the proceedings:
Khan’s attorney, Barrister Salman Safdar, argued the charges were “politically motivated” and that the former prime minister was unaware of the protest activities since he was in NAB custody at the time.
The defense also stressed, “Imran Khan had condemned the riots and requested the court to grant post-arrest bail.”
In response, the prosecution countered that the upheaval was premeditated, claiming “military installations were targeted on the instructions of the PTI founder,” supported by presented evidence.
