ATC censures IOs over May 9 probe delay

An anti-terrorism court (ATC) on Saturday ordered investigation officers (IOs) in different May 9, 2023 related cases in which former prime minister Imran Khan's septuagenarian sisters are among the accused—to complete their investigation by January 18.

The ATC warned that it will not allow more time to the IOs and directed them to submit their reports at the next hearing of the cases.

The court issued this order after Aleema Khan, a sister of Imran Khan, took to the rostrum to question why her interim bails in May 9, 2023 cases had not been confirmed despite passage of 18 months.

The ATC was hearing bail pleas of Imran Khan and his sisters Aleema Khan and Uzma Khan in Jinnah House attack and other cases registered in the wake of the May 9, 2023 riots that occurred after the arrest of Imran from a court premises in Islamabad.

Aleema told the judge that she and her sister have been appearing in the court in connection with these cases for more than one and half years and that the prosecution is deliberately delaying the matter.

"Earlier, the IOs were not appearing before the courts and now the investigation is not being completed. It is tantamount to depriving us of our basic rights," she said, asking as to what are the reasons for this delay in the confirmation of their bail pleas.

Meanwhile, a joint investigation team (JIT) submitted a report before an ATC, claiming that PTI leaders Asad Umar, Azam Sawati, Hafiz Farhat and others were guilty of inciting people, incitements that resulted in the May 9 rioting. Later, the ATC summoned the accused's lawyers for arguments on Jan 14.