Jailed PTI leaders move CJP for appeal hearings

Letter say eight-month delay in fixing cases deprives them of timely justice

LAHORE:

Several senior leaders of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), currently imprisoned in Kot Lakhpat Jail, have appealed to the chief justice of Pakistan (CJP) to ensure an early hearing of their appeals against their conviction.

In a letter from jail, Dr Yasmin Rashid, Omar Sarfraz Cheema, Mian Mahmoodur Rasheed and Ejaz Chaudhry urged the chief justice to direct the high court to fix their appeals for hearing at the earliest, stating that they are being deprived of their constitutional and legal right to a timely hearing.

The PTI leaders were sentenced by an anti-terrorism court (ATC) in July 2025 in cases related to the May 9, 2023 violence. They said they have been imprisoned for the past 34 months and had filed appeals against their convictions, but the appeals have not been heard for the last eight months.

They stated that their lawyers had submitted applications for an early hearing three months ago, yet no proceedings have taken place so far. "We are law-abiding citizens who respect the law of Pakistan and have served the country to the best of our abilities," the letter stated, adding that they are only demanding their constitutional right.

The PTI leaders also reminded the chief justice that directions had previously been issued for the ATC to decide May 9 cases expeditiously, and requested that similar instructions be given for the prompt hearing and decision of their appeals.