Imran seeks early hearing of bail pleas

Former prime minister Imran Khan has once again sought early hearings of his post-arrest bail applications in eight cases filed against him in the wake of May 9, 2023 incidents of vandalism.

In his application, he has raised concerns over the non-appearance of the prosecutors before the court during the case hearings and the dissolution of a bench constituted earlier to hear his bail pleas.

The petition filed on behalf of Imran Khan by his counsel Barrister Salman Safdar stated that the PTI founder filed a civil miscellaneous application for early hearing of his bail pleas on March 18 but none of the complainants or prosecutors appeared on the scheduled date.

It said that a division bench of the LHC was scheduled to hear Imran's post arrest bail plea on March 24 but the bench was dissolved at the eleventh hour and the cause list of the bail pleas was cancelled.

Imran contended that Anti-Terrorism Court (III) in Lahore has confirmed his pre-arrest bail in two cases related to May riots followed by grant of post-arrest bails in four cases.

"The observations of the LHC and the judge ATC (III) and judge ATC (I), Rawalpindi are sufficient grounds for granting bail to the petitioner in a case fabricated by 'Political Rivals'," the petition said.

It said both orders, which address the same allegations, remain in effect and have not been overturned by the Superior Court. "The instant matter needs to be heard expeditiously as the petitioner has cogent and convincing grounds for grant of post arrest bails," it added

Meanwhile, LHC's Justice Khalid Ishaq is scheduled to hold on April 7 further proceedings on a plea seeking implementation of the Supreme Court's July 12 order with regard to grant of reserved seats to the PTI in the National Assembly.

Petitioner Munir Ahmed filed this pela through advocate Azhar Siddique requesting the court to direct the concerned quarters to implement the SC ruling that resurrected the PTI as a parliamentary party.

Siddique argued that despite the SC's clear ruling, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has not issued yet any notification regarding allocation of reserved seats to the party "which is tantamount to contempt of court".

"The ECP is not implementing the decision as directed under Article 189 of the Constitution for which Article 204 is already in place. At the same time, the LHC has the jurisdiction in view of Article 187(2) of the Constitution to implement the decision or to enforce it," it added.

Meanwhile, a LHC bench reserved order on a petition filed against the detention law. Chief Justice Aalia Neelum presided over the hearing on a petition filed by Zainab Umair.