The Home Department has issued a notification, as stated by Punjab Special Prosecutor Syed Farhad Ali Shah, outlining that the trial proceedings for the May 9 cases will now take place within the confines of the jail.
Under this directive, the Jinnah House trial is expected to reach its conclusion within a span of one to one and a half months. Furthermore, Mr. Farhad Ali Shah has confirmed the submission of the challan to the court, signifying the formal initiation of legal proceedings.
In accordance with the notification, other cases related to arson and siege, specifically those concerning Askari Tower and the Shadman police station, will also undergo trial within the prison premises. This move aims to streamline the legal processes and ensure the efficient adjudication of these cases.
In a separate development, Justice Ali Baqir Najfi of the Lahore High Court (LHC) has directed prosecutors representing the Punjab government to provide updates to the court regarding the Khadijah Shah case. The petitioner, represented by her legal counsel, has asserted that she was wrongly implicated in the incidents related to the May 9 riots, with the Gulberg police station allegedly involving her in the case against the established facts.
Khadija Shah, through her lawyer, has expressed dissatisfaction with the Anti-Terrorism Court's decision to deny her bail, claiming that it disregarded crucial facts in her defense. This directive from Justice Ali Baqir Najfi seeks to ensure a fair and thorough examination of the case in light of the petitioner's concerns.