SC issues notice to Punjab govt on May 9 accused bail cases

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court (SC) on Friday issued notice to the Punjab government in bail applications of six accused of May-9 incidents.

A three-member apex court bench, headed by Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhel, heard the bail applications of the accused. The court summoned detailed record of the case on the next date of hearing.

Justice Mandokhel asked as to what damage the accused persons caused to public properties and whether weapons were recovered from the accused persons. The judge further asked as to what provisions had been imposed on the accused persons.

Counsel for the accused told the court that all provisions of the Penal Code of Pakistan had been imposed on the accused.

Justice Mandokhel asked the counsel whether anti-terrorism provisions were also imposed on the accused. The counsel replied in affirmative.

Justice Mandokhel observed that the incidents happened on May 9, but the First Information Report (FIR) was lodged on May 10.

Counsel for the accused told the court that his clients were not office-bearers of any political party but shopkeepers.

Justice Hassan Azhar Rizvi, another member of the bench, observed that the accused were arrested after they were identified through the CCTV [closed-circuit television] footage.

The judge asked the counsel as to whether mobile-phones were recovered from the accused persons.

The counsel submitted before the court that notices should be issued for submitting whole record in the matter.

Later, the court issued notice to the Punjab government and adjourned hearing for date-in-office.