Bails of Imran, other PTI leaders extended in Zaman Park violence cases

An anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Lahore has extended the pre-arrest bails of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders, including chairman Imran Khan and senior leader Fawad Chaudhry, until May 16.

The bails were granted in connection with different FIRs registered against them for allegedly attacking police officials, creating law and order, panic, setting ablaze state properties at Zaman Park, and Imran Khan's alleged involvement in the Zille Shah murder case.

The PTI leaders had sought exemption from their personal appearance before the court through their lawyers, citing their busy schedules. The ATC judge, Ijaz Buttar accepted their applications and fixed the next hearing on May 16.

During the hearing, the ATC judge asked Hammad Azhar, another PTI leader, which date should be fixed for the next hearing. In response, Hammad Azhar requested the court to fix any date after May 14, which has already been fixed by the country's top court for conducting elections.

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The judge seemed surprised by this statement and asked Hammad Azhar whether the elections are really going to be held on May 14. In reply, Hammad Azhar said that there are elections on May 14 in accordance with the law, but he is not sure about the government.

Apart from Imran Khan and Fawad Chaudhry, the bails of other PTI leaders, including Hammad Azhar and Farrukh Habib, were also extended until May 16 in the same cases.

It is worth mentioning that the cases against the PTI leaders were registered after a clash between police and PTI workers outside Imran Khan’s Zaman Park residence in Lahore on April 5. The police had accused the PTI workers of attacking them and damaging public and private property.

The PTI, on the other hand, had denied the allegations and accused the police of using excessive force against peaceful protesters. The party had also demanded an independent inquiry into the incident.

The extension of pre-arrest bails for the PTI leaders has given them temporary relief, but the cases against them are still pending in court.