In a significant legal development, the Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Rawalpindi on Saturday dismissed the bail applications of 16 leaders and workers of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) in connection with protest-related cases registered in 2023, Dawn reported.
He said, "Imran Khan is ready for a dialogue not because he wants power or the prime minister's chair, but because he dreams of building a proud, independent nation."
Opposition Leader in the National Assembly, Omar Ayub, Punjab Assembly Opposition Leader Ahmed Khan Bhachar, SIC chief Sahibzada Hamid Raza, and Imran Khan's three sisters -- Aleema Khan, Uzma Khan and Noreen Khan -- along with their cousin Qasim Khan, were among those arrested on Thursda
He dismissed recent claims made by PTI Senator Azam Swati, who had suggested that Khan had allowed him to hold back-channel talks to stabilise the political situation of Pakistan.
On Monday, a division bench of the LHC, which includes Justice Syed Shahbaz Ali Rizvi and Justice Tariq Saleem Sheikh, resumed hearing Imran Khan's bail applications in eight May 9 cases, including the Corps Commander House attack case.
Fawad Chaudhry alleged that some people became members of the National Assembly using Imran Khan's name while secretly expressing hope for convictions against him and other senior members of the party.
Justice Raja Inaam Ameen Minhas presided over the hearing. Lawyers Usman Gul and Zahir Abbas represented Bushra Bibi, wife of the incarcerated former Prime Minister Imran Khan.
The list will be finalised each Tuesday and Thursday and provided to prison authorities through one of three designated focal persons: Salman Akram Raja, Gohar Ali Khan or Intizar Panjhotha.
Speaking on Geo News programme "Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Sath" on Friday, JUI-F Senator Kamran Murtaza said that his party has reservations if PTI seeks to ally with them and has contacts with the establishment simultaneously.