PTI Leaders' Court Hearing Delayed as Judge is Unavailable
A significant court hearing involving Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders, related to the protests that took place on November 26, faced an unexpected delay on Tuesday. The proceedings in the Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) were postponed because the presiding judge was not available to hear the case.
Key Details of the Adjourned Session
Judge Abul Hasanat Zulqarnain, who was scheduled to preside over the session, was absent. This hearing was crucial as it was meant to address the pre-arrest bail applications submitted by the PTI leaders. Prominent figures from the party, including Junaid Akbar, Shahram Tarkai, Rauf Hassan, and Salman Akram Raja, were present in the courtroom as required. The court staff formally recorded their attendance, confirming their appearance before the bench.
However, with the judge unavailable, the legal arguments concerning the bail pleas could not be presented. No proceedings took place beyond the administrative marking of attendance.
Outcome and Next Steps
As a direct result of the adjournment, the court has set a new date for the hearing. The case will now be taken up on January 19. Importantly, the interim bail granted to the PTI leaders, which protects them from arrest in this specific case, has been officially extended by the court until that next hearing date. This ensures their legal protection continues while they await their next day in court.
