LAHORE: The Lahore High Court on Tuesday sought arguments on an application of incarcerated Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf founding chairman Imran Khan for early hearing of his postarrest bail petitions in eight cases of May 9 riots including the Jinnah House attack.

A two-member bench comprising Justice Syed Shahbaz Ali Rizvi and Justice Tariq Saleem Sheikh took up the early hearing of the plea.

During the proceedings, Prosecutor General of Punjab Syed Farhad Ali Shah appeared before the bench in compliancewith the orders.

The bench expressed concern over the absence of the relevant prosecutors ofthe cases.

Barrister Salman Safdar, the lawyer for Imran Khan, informed the bench that 21 bail petitions of the petitioner had been approved, while eight were rejected.

The prosecutor general told the bench that the government had filed petitions for the cancellation of the bail granted to the petitioner in the other cases.

The bench adjourned the heating till March 24 and directed both sides to come up with arguments.

An anti-terrorism court had on Nov 27, 2024 denied bail to the former prime minister in these eight cases.

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

They say 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 NAB.

The sole allegation against the petitioner in the cases is of `abetment`, which has been supplemented by the prosecution most vaguely, the pleas add.

They argue that the trial judge overlooked the fact thatfrivolous and baseless allegations related to the May 9 events have already been rejected due to inconsistencies in the story of the investigating agency.

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

BAIL EXTENDED: An anti-terrorism court on Tuesday extended the interim pre-arrest bail of Imran`s sisters Aleema and Uzma in cases related to last year October protests.Judge Manzer Ali Gill heard their bail petitions as both sisters appeared before the court on expiry of their bail period. However, the police failed to present the record ofthe cases.

A counsel for the petitioners told the court that arguments on bail petitions had already been completed.

The judge adjourned the hearing till April 8.

Speaking to media outside the court, Aleema expressed her disappointment, saying when she failed to appear in the court, there were warrants for her arrest, but no action was taken when the investigating officer failed to show up. She claimed the IO was present in the court but disappeared during the hearing of their bail pleas. She questioned why no action was taken when a police official did not attend the proceedings.

She said it was the court`s responsibility to ensure justice and not allow anyone making mockery of the law.