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LAHORE:
The Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) has temporarily suspended jail trial proceedings in three key cases linked to the May 9 arson and vandalism incidents, citing an excessive workload caused by ongoing remand proceedings of members of a religious group.
Presiding Judge Manzar Ali Gul ordered that the trial be postponed until October 30, noting that the court’s schedule was heavily occupied with custody hearings.
“Due to the large number of remand cases, the court cannot continue the May 9 trial proceedings at this time,” he stated.
Significant progress had already been made before the pause in hearings. The court has recorded the statements of over two dozen witnesses in the Askari Tower arson case, while 24 witnesses have testified in the Jinnah House vandalism case and 26 witnesses in the Gulberg container-burning case.
The May 9 cases stem from violent protests that erupted across Lahore following the arrest of a prominent political leader.
The unrest led to widespread arson, with several public and private properties set ablaze, prompting terrorism-related charges against multiple accused.
