LAHORE – An Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) on Friday granted bail to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan in four separate cases involving charges of arson and vandalism.
ATC Judge Arshad Javed passed the order on pleas moved by Imran Khan against the incidents of rioting and property destruction.
The cases stemmed from the violent protests that followed the arrest of Imran Khan earlier this year.
The court approved Imran Khan’s bail in all four cases including the one related to the burning of the Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) office.
The bail was granted against surety bonds of Rs. 500,000 for each case.
Earlier in the day, an Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Islamabad postponed indictment proceedings against former Prime Minister Imran Khan and other accused in the GHQ attack case for the second time.
Judge Amjad Ali Shah heard the case involving charges against Imran Khan and several others related to an attack on the General Headquarters (GHQ).
The strict security measures were enforced around the court by police.
During the hearing, former Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed submitted an application seeking acquittal to avoid indictment while Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur was also absent, having filed a request for exemption from appearing.
Additionally, the charge sheets were not distributed among the 25 accused present.
Defense lawyers raised objections to the charge sheet, questioning the evidence and testimony presented.
According to the defense, the prosecution’s file lists 94 witnesses, but none specifically named Imran Khan or other PTI leaders.
Babar Awan, representing the defense side, argued that the prosecution’s key witnesses had retracted their statements implicating PTI leaders while police records did not indicate any weapons possession by the accused.
He contended that this undermines the validity of the charges against the PTI leader and other senior figures. He said his client has nothing to do with the allegations levelled against him.
