LAHORE: An Anti-Terrorism Court on Saturday decided to continue legal proceedings against PTI founder Imran Khan in cases linked to May 9 even in his absence.
During the hearing on Imran’s interim bail pleas in cases related to the arson at Jinnah House, Askari Tower, PML-N House and other locations, the court extended the bail till March 1.
ATC Judge Arshad Javed said the PTI founder did not have access to a video link or WhatsApp either, hence his attendance could not be recorded.
The court said that the Adiala jail superintendent was liable for contempt as he did not ensure Imran’s attendance through electronic means and the hearing on bail pleas would have been delayed by several days.
Deputy Prosecutor Abdul Jabbar Dogar did not object to the decision based on merit. The prosecutor asserted that the accused’s presence is not crucial as everyone knows that Imran is presently incarcerated at Adiala jail.
Imran’s lawyer, Barrister Salman Safdar, concurred with the suggestion and agreed to the proposal to complete the arguments without the accused’s presence and requested the court to decide on temporary bail today.
