LAHORE: A Lahore High Court two-judge bench on Monday overruled the registrar office`s objections to seven bail petitions of Pakistan Tehreek-iInsaf (PTI) incarcerated founding chairman Imran Khan in as many cases of May 9 riots, including an attack on the Lahore corps commander`s residence.

The bench comprising Chief Justice Aalia Neelum and Justice Asjad Javed Ghural took up eight separate bail petitions of Mr Khan filed through Barrister Salman Safdar.

During the hearing, the counsel informed the bench that the registrar office raised a similar objection on seven bail pleas, saying they lacked the thumb impression of the petitioner.

He said the office raised an objection to the eighth plea about the absence of a certified copy of the Iddat case judgment against the petitioner.

Barrister Safdar assured the court that he would submit a new affidavit at the next hearing to address the objections.

The bench set aside the objections raised by the office on seven bail applications and directed the office to allot diary numbers tothe casesforhearing.

However, the bench sustainedthe objection on eighth petition regarding the missing certified copy of the Iddat case judgment, instructing the counsel to attach it with the application.

An anti-terrorism court had on Nov 27 denied bail to the former prime minister in these eight cases.

The petitions mainly argued that the prosecution failed to establish the petitioner`s association with the unfortunate occurrences narrated in the FIRs.

They said the petitioner has been implicated in the May 9 cases as a result of a well-orchestrated plan, merely to harass and humiliate him for political reasons, even though admittedly he was in the custody of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB).

The arrest of the petitioner was never required in the cases, which was evident from the fact that police remained reluctant to secure his arrest during the period of five months and 12 days after the dismissal of his prearrestbailby the trialcourt.

The petitions alleged that the indifferent behaviour of police and lack of effortin securing the arrest of the petitioner at a time when he was detained at Adiala Jail, supplement the argument that arrest of the petitioner was not required in the cases.The sole allegation against the petitioner in the cases is of `abetment`, which has been supplemented by the prosecution most vaguely, the pleas added.

They argued that the trial judge overlooked the fact that frivolous and baseless allegations related to the May 9 events have already been rejected due to inconsistenciesin the story ofthe investigating agency.

The petitions asked the court to set aside the trial court`s decision and grant bail to the former prime minister in the eight FIRs.

ANTI-RAPE LAW: Lahore High Court Chief Justice Aalia Neelum on Monday issued a notice to the attorney generalfor Pakistan to assist on a matter related to implementation of the Anti-Rape Act 2021.

The chief justice was heading a full bench seized with a bail petition of a rape suspect, Wajid Ali.

Justice Farooq Haider and Justice Ali Zia Bajwa were the other members at the bench.

The chief justice expressed concern that failure to enforce the anti-rape law could lead to the acquittal of accused personsin rape cases. She r em arke d that thenumber of rape cases had surpassed murder cases. She emphasised that the lack of enforcement of the Anti-Rape Act 2021is resulting in the acquittal of accusedindividuals.

Prosecutor General of Punjab Syed Farhad Ali Shah informed thebenchthattherulesunderthe anti-rape law were being implemented. He said under Section 7 of the Act, special prosecutors had been appointed and a separate cell had been established to monitor rape cases on a daily basis.

The bench summoned the provincial secretary for prosecution to appear in person in the next hearing. It also gave relevant institutions a final chance to submit their reports. The bench sought reports on the trial proceedings involving minor victims in rape cases.

The bench directed the prosecutor general and the advocate general of Punjab to submit reports on meetings and progress regarding the implementation of the anti-rape act.

The bench adjourned the proceedings till submission of the reports by the authorities concerned. Staff Reporter