LAHORE: An anti-terrorism court on Friday denied post-arrest bail to PTI-Punjab President Dr Yasmin Rashid and eleven others in the Shadman police station attack case.

Judge Ijaz Ahmad Buttar announced his reserved verdicts on the bail petitions of 34 suspects in the police station attack during the May 9 riots.

The judge dismissed the petitions of 12 suspects while released 22 others on bail subject to furnishing surety bonds. Those granted bail mostly include juveniles.

Separately, the judge issued notices to the police and the prosecution on petitions of Dr Rashid for post-arrest bail in three other cases including attacks on Askari Tower, PML-N office in Model Town and torching a container at Kalma Chowk.

Advocate Rana Mudassir advanced his initial arguments on behalf of the petitioner and asked the court to allow the bail petitions.

Identification parade be conducted within 48 hours of arrest: LHC

The judge adjourned the hearings of the container burning case till June 20, tower’s case till June 21 and PML-N office burning case till June 22.

IDENTIFICATION PARADE: The Lahore High Court has directed the police that the identification parade of a suspect shall be conducted within 48 hours of the arrest under the supervision of a judicial magistrate.

Justice Tariq Saleem Sheikh observed that if the identification parade is not conducted within 48 hours of the arrest, the magistrate shall bring the matter to the notice of the district and sessions judge and the police head concerned.

If the sessions judge finds any delinquency or dereliction of duty by the investigating officer (IO), he shall also recommend action against him (the IO).

Justice Sheikh rules that the magistrate shall ensure the identification parade be held the next day in any case.

The judge issued the instructions while disposing petitions of some suspects arrested for their alleged involvement in the May 9 riots by the PTI in Multan.

The petitioners agitated a delay in their identification parade on part of the police.

The petitioners were initially detained under the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) Ordinance and their detention orders were subsequently revoked, but the police arrested them in criminal cases relating to the May 9 events.

Justice Sheikh held that evidently the current practice of the identification parade is inefficient.

He said the delay in conducting the parade following the suspect’s arrest also compromises the credibility of the procedure.

The judge regrets that such delays, besides causing unnecessary hardship to a suspect, impact his fundamental rights to liberty, dignity, due process and a fair trial.

Published in Dawn, June 17th, 2023