Judge Malik Ijaz Asif of the Special Anti-Terrorism Court heard the bail applications of the accused in 12 separate cases related to the incidents of May 9.
These included applications of former prime minister and founder chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Imran Khan, vice chairman and former foreign minister, Shah Mehmood Qureshi, and Awami Muslim League (AML) chief and former interior minister, Sheikh Rashid Ahmed.
At the hearing, central prosecutor Ikram Amin Minhas did not appear in the court, citing a busy schedule, however the other prosecutor, Haseeb Sultan Raja, was present. Raja explained to the court that the record in question was with case investigation officers who had travelled to Lahore to conduct their investigations.
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Expressing indignation at the response, the court adjourned the proceeding for two hours, seeking the record. However, the record could not be submitted even during the second hearing.
When the court inquired, the deputy prosecutor reiterated that the investigating team had moved to Lahore with the records.
Meanwhile, Sheikh Rashid’s attorney adopted the stance that the prosecution deliberately uses such delaying tactics. “It is the responsibility of the prosecution to bring the records. If the prosecution fails to fulfil its responsibility, the accused cannot be punished.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 25th, 2024.
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