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LAHORE, Jun 17 (APP): A division bench of the Lahore High Court (LHC) on Tuesday adjourned the hearing of bail petitions filed by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder in eight cases linked to the May 9 riots, directing both parties to present further arguments and documentation at the next hearing scheduled for June 19.
The bench, headed by Justice Syed Shahbaz Ali Rizvi, conducted proceedings on bail petitions of the PTI founder.
During proceedings, a prosecutor informed the court that the riots caused an estimated Rs 40 million in damage to police equipment, while the attack on Jinnah House alone led to losses exceeding Rs 520 million. The prosecutor alleged that the PTI founder had declined to undergo polygraph and photogrammetric testing, and had repeatedly ignored trial court orders—factors which, he argued, warranted dismissal of the bail petitions.
In response to a court query, the prosecutor referred to the case of PTI leader Ijaz Chaudhry, who had been granted bail, distinguishing him as a mere follower rather than an instigator. He maintained that those who aid or abet a crime are equally culpable under the law. He further alleged that the PTI founder had been inciting public sentiment against state institutions following his ouster from power.
The court adjourned the hearing while instructing both sides to submit additional records and continue their arguments in the upcoming session.
The bail petitions pertain to eight separate cases, including attacks on Jinnah House and Askari Tower. Earlier, an anti-terrorism court had dismissed the PTI founder’s bail applications in all these cases, prompting the appeals in the high court.