ATC orders release of arrested PTI lawmakers
On Monday, an anti-terrorism court in Islamabad directed the immediate release of all Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) members of the National Assembly who had been detained at the Parliament House following the party’s political demonstration on September 8.
Judge Abul Hasnat Zulqarnain heard their bail requests and granted post-arrest bail, on surety bonds of Rs30,000 each, to the PTI MNAs who had been taken into custody by Islamabad police, with their cases filed at Sangjani police station.
During the proceedings, prosecutor Raja Naveed informed the court that Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) MNA Muhammad Ahmed Chattha was also named in the case. He urged the court to deny bail, noting that the minimum sentence for the charges is three years.
When the judge asked if any evidence had been recovered from Sher Afzal Marwat, Ahmed Chattha, or the other MNAs, the prosecutor answered negatively.
The police had arrested PTI lawmakers on September 8 and 9 in connection with the party’s event in the federal capital. Those detained included Marwat, Sheikh Waqas Akram, Zain Qureshi, Chattha, Malik Aamir Dogar, Yousaf Khan, and Naeem Ali Shah.
PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Khan and lawmaker Marwat were also arrested outside the Parliament House for allegedly breaching the newly introduced public gathering laws during the September 8 event. Initially, Marwat protested being taken into custody demanding to see an arrest warrant.
While Gohar was released next day, Marwat was kept in detention for violating regulations under the new Peaceful Assembly and Public Order Bill, 2024, and for allegedly clashing with police on the day of the rally.
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On September 12, at least 10 PTI lawmakers who had been arrested from the Parliament House were brought to the lower house after National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq issued their production orders.
The PTI had organized a major rally in Islamabad on September 8, leading to clashes between party workers and police at Chungi No 26, on the outskirts of the city.
PTI lawmakers, including Qureshi, Akram, Naseem-ur-Rehman, and Zubair Khan, were also taken into custody from the Parliament House. Alongside, at least 28 local leaders, among them Seemabia Tahir and Raja Basharat, were also arrested.
