An anti-terrorism court (ATC) on Friday extended pre-arrest bail to 14 leaders of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) including its Punjab president Dr Yasmin Rashid in cases of violence during the party’s May 25 long march.

Read more: Model Town carnage case: Court displeased over PAT’s delay request  

Besides Dr Rashid, Hammad Azhar, Andleeb Abbas, Senator Ijaz Chaudhry, Zubair Khan Niazi, Imtiaz Mahmood Sheikh, Murad Raas, Mian Aslam Iqbal, Yasir Gillani and Malik Nadeem Abbas appeared before the court.

However, the court allowed an application of Shafqat Mahmood for exemption from personal appearance on medical ground.

Advocate Burhan Moazzam Malik continued his arguments on behalf of the PTI leaders as the court extended their bails till June 28.

The petitioners’ counsel argued that police registered fabricated cases on political consolidation. He asked the court to confirm the pre-arrest bail of the petitioners as police wanted to arrest them.

Read more: IHC CJ adjourns hearing of rare animals case till Sept 8

Shahdara and Gulberg police had registered the FIR on multiple charges and also included the offence under section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act 19.