Prisoners seek urgent listing of May 9 appeals

Jailed leaders of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) have once again knocked on the doors of the country's top judiciary, urging early hearings of their appeals against convictions stemming from the May 9 violence, as delays continue to cloud the legal fate of party leaders and workers alike.

According to PTI's legal team, a fresh letter has been sent to Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Yahya Afridi as well as the Lahore High Court chief justice by incarcerated PTI leaders Dr Yasmin Rashid, Mian Mehmoodur Rasheed, Senator Ijaz Chaudhry and Omer Sarfraz Cheema.

The correspondence seeks early fixation of their pending appeals, particularly those linked to cases against party workers.

PTI Insaf Lawyers Forum Convenor Intezar Panjutha confirmed that the letters had been dispatched to both chief justices. He said the first such letter was written by Dr Yasmin Rashid to the Chief Justice of Pakistan on December 14, 2024.