The Supreme Court (SC) on Tuesday adjourned the hearing in Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan’s bail applications related to the May 9 incidents.

The two-member bench, headed by the Chief Justice of Pakistan, adjourned the case until August 12, due to the absence of PTI founder’s lawyer Salman Safdar.

Lawyer Salman Akram Raja appeared in the Supreme Court and informed the bench that Salman Safdar is currently out of the country, requesting the court to postpone the hearing.

He requested the court to give a date for next week and issue immediate notices to all parties. However, the court rejected the request to issue notice and adjourned the hearing until August 12.

New bench constituted

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court has constituted a new bench to hear the bail appeals filed by the PTI founder in connection with the May 9 cases.

The new three-member bench will hear the petitions on August 12.

Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Yahya Afridi will head the bench, while Justice Shafi Siddiqui and Justice Mian Gul Hassan Aurangzeb will be other members of the bench.

ATC expresses annoyance

On the other hand, an anti-terrorism court in Sargodha also heard the case relating to the May 9 attack on the Judicial Complex in Mianwali.

The court expressed anger over the failure of the Mianwali police to arrest any accused so far.

The court on Monday issued arrest warrants for the accused for their non-appearance and ordered that all the accused be arrested and produced before the court.

However, the police have not been able to produce any of the accused in court so far.

PTI lawyer Malik Shafqat Awan, while seeking an extension till 12:30 pm, took the stand that he was currently in Islamabad in consultation with the party leadership and would appear in court by 12:30pm.

Expressing concern over the performance of the police, the court clarified that the arrested accused should be produced before the court on the next hearing, otherwise, action will be taken against the concerned officers.