ATC rejects Bushra's interim bail request

Orders police to conclude their investigation in May 9 cases in 7 days

RAWALPINDI/ISLAMABAD:

An Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) on Monday rejected a request by former prime minister Imran Khan's spouse Bushra Bibi to grant her interim bails in 12 different cases related to May 9, 2023 incidents of vandalism.

ATC judge Malik Ejaz Asif, who was conducting proceedings in a courtroom inside Rawalpindi's Adiala Jail, noted that an investigation was necessary as the accused was nominated in a number of cases.

Dismissing the former first lady's request for interim bails in the cases, he later directed the police to conclude their investigation within seven days. The court later adjourned till August 22. Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi who are currently detained at Adiala Jail attended the court proceedings.

Meanwhile, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) ordered its office to list Bushra Bibi's petition seeking orders for the police not to arrest her in any more cases for hearing with her other petitions.

The bench also ordered submission of the case file before the IHC chief justice. He also referred another complaint against mistreatment of Bushra at Adiala Jail to the jail superintendent for action as per law.

IHC's Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb presided over a hearing on Bushra Bibi's petitions regarding the provision of case details and her request not to be arrested in another case.

The petitioner's lawyer, Shahbaz Khosa, argued that Bushra Bibi was convicted in the Toshakhana One case on January 31, but the conviction had been suspended.