The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Thursday dismissed eight bail petitions filed by the founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) in connection with multiple cases related to the May 9 violence, including the Jinnah House attack. A LHC two-member bench headed by Justice Syed Shahbaz Ali Rizvi issued a seven-page written verdict rejecting the bail applications. 

The court observed that the cases fall under the category of “prohibited offences” and are covered by Section 497 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. According to the verdict, further investigation is required in all eight cases.  The trial court has already granted permission for the conduct of a polygraph (lie detector) test, photogrammetric test, and voice matching test of the PTI founder to aid the investigation. 

The bench noted that the PTI founder, prima facie, failed to cooperate with the investigation process, leading to the rejection of his bail applications.  Barrister Salman Safdar appeared on behalf of the PTI founder and had requested bail in connection with several cases registered in the aftermath of the May 9 protests, which erupted following the arrest of the former prime minister and led to attacks on military and government installations. 

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)