An anti-terrorism court (ATC) on Friday extended the interim bail of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders, including Asad Umar, Yasmin Rashid, Zubair Niazi, Mian Aslam Iqbal and others, till April 27 in a case, registered for allegedly attacking police and creating law and order situation outside party chairman Imran Khan’s Zaman Park residence.
ATC Judge Abher Gul Khan heard the bail petitions of the PTI leaders, who also appeared before the court on expiry of their interim bail and marked their attendance.
At the start of proceedings, the head of a joint investigation team (JIT), constituted by the Punjab government to probe cases against PTI leadership and workers, SSP Imran Kishwar submitted that only Asad Umar had joined the investigation whereas others had not joined the process yet. The court directed the PTI lead-ers to join the investigation. SSP Imran Kishwar submitted that all suspects could come to his office and join the investi-gation.
However, the petitioners’ counsel submitted that all persons could join the investigations in the court as well.
At this, the court ordered the JIT head to record statements of the PTI leaders and adjourned further hearing till 10am. Later, as the court resumed pro-ceedings, the JIT head submitted that all the suspects had recorded their statements, adding that they needed to be questioned in the presence of the witnesses. Subsequently, the court extended the interim bail of the PTI leaders till April 27 and ordered them to appear before the JIT at 2.30 pm on Friday.
However, the petitioners’ counsel submitted that all persons could join the investigations in the court as well. At this, the court ordered the JIT head to record statements of the PTI leaders and adjourned further hearing till 10am. Later, as the court resumed pro-ceedings, the JIT head submitted that all the suspects had recorded their statements, adding that they needed to be questioned in the presence of the witnesses.
