Islamabad ATC Orders Judicial Remand for 146 PTI Workers

Published at: December 11, 2024 7:30 AM

Updated at: December 26, 2024 11:17 AM

ISLAMABAD: On Tuesday, the Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) sent 146 workers of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on judicial remand after the expiration of their physical remand. Among those remanded was a 14-year-old teenager, who had been detained along with the others in connection with the PTI-led protest at D-Chowk in Islamabad.

The prosecution had requested an additional 20-day physical remand for the accused individuals. However, the defense lawyer strongly objected to this, particularly on behalf of the 14-year-old, who had only recently arrived in Pakistan for medical treatment with his widowed mother. The defense lawyer argued that the teenager had been wrongfully implicated, emphasizing that no incriminating evidence or materials had been found on him.

Judge Tahir Abbas Sipra, who was presiding over the case, inquired about any evidence linking the teenager to the protest and expressed concern over the police’s handling of the case. He pointed out that the accusations lacked physical corroboration and that the involvement of the teenager seemed unjustified. After considering the defense's arguments and the lack of substantial evidence, the court rejected the prosecution’s request for further physical remand and ordered the accused, including the teenager, to be sent to judicial custody.

In a separate case, the ATC extended the identification parade for 54 PTI workers who had been arrested in connection with a case filed at the Khanna police station. The police had asked for an additional three-day period for the identification process, but Judge Sipra granted only a two-day extension, citing a high court directive that identification parades should be completed within three days. The judge instructed the police to present the suspects in court after the two-day period, underscoring the importance of adhering to the court's timeline for the completion of judicial procedures.

Meanwhile, Opposition Leader in the National Assembly, Omar Ayub, who is also a PTI member, was granted interim bail in five separate cases linked to the protests. These cases were registered at Bhara Kahu, Koral, and Aabpara police stations. The additional district and sessions court in Islamabad approved Ayub’s bail in three of the cases with bonds set at Rs10,000 each. Another court, led by Judge Mohammad Afzal Majuka, granted him bail in the fifth case with a bond of Rs5,000. The courts have ordered the police to present the case records by December 21, providing a deadline for further developments in these cases.

The proceedings reflect ongoing tensions surrounding the PTI protests and the legal challenges faced by its leadership and workers, with several cases still pending resolution in the courts.