An anti-terrorism court (ATC) on Wednesday extended the interim bail of several Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders and others in the Askari Tower attack case until August 2.
ATC Judge Khalid Arshad conducted proceedings on the bail applications of Omar Ayub, Azam Swati, Asad Umar, Fawad Chaudhry, Mussarat Jamshed Cheema, Hafiz Farhat Abbas, and others. During the proceedings, Fawad Chaudhry appeared upon the expiry of his interim bail, while exemption applications were filed on behalf of Omar Ayub, Asad Umar, and others, which the court accepted. The investigation officer sought time to produce the record. He further submitted that written statements of Omar Ayub, Hafiz Farhat Abbas, and others had not been submitted.
At this, the court remarked that it would decide all the applications on the next date of hearing, hinting at dismissing the bail applications of the accused who had not submitted their written statements yet. However, following a brief argument with the counsel for the accused, the court gave them time for preparation and directed them to conclude arguments on the next date of hearing, August 2.
