Release all arrested PTI lawmakers linked to Islamabad rally, ATC orders

ISLAMABAD: An anti-terrorism court in Islamabad has ordered the immediate release of all arrested members of the National Assembly belonging to the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).

The PTI lawmakers, who were arrested from the Parliament House in the wake of the party's September 8 political gathering in the federal capital, were charged in cases registered at the Sangjani police station.

ATC Judge Abul Hasnat Zulqarnain heard the lawmakers' pleas, granting them post-arrest bail in the cases against surety bonds worth Rs30,000 each.

During the hearing of the case, the prosecutor, Raja Naveed, told the court that Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) MNA Muhammad Ahmed Chattha is also nominated in the case. He requested the court against approving bails as the minimum sentence for provisions imposed in the case is three years.

"Has anything been recovered from Sher Afzal Marwat, Ahmed Chattha and other MNAs?" the judge questioned the prosecutor.

He responded to the question in the negative.

The police, on September 8 and 9, arrested PTI lawmakers in the wake of the party's political gathering in the federal capital. The leaders included Marwat, Sheikh Waqas Akram, Zain Qureshi, Chattha, Malik Aamir Dogar, Yousaf Khan, Naeem Ali Shah.

PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Khan and lawmaker Marwat were also arrested from outside the Parliament House for allegedly violating the newly enacted public gathering law during the party’s power show in the federal capital on September 8.

Marwat had resisted the arrest and asked the police to show arrest warrant.

While Gohar was later released, Marwat was kept in custody for violating regulations devised under a new law — Peaceful Assembly and Public Order Bill, 2024, and also accused of clashing with police personnel on the rally day.

At least 10 PTI lawmakers, who were arrested from the premises of Parliament House, were brought to the lower house on September 12 after their production orders were issued by National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq.

Arrest of PTI lawmakers

The PTI had staged its much-hyped power show in Islamabad with party workers and police clashing on Chungi No 26, on the outskirts of the capital on September 8.

Heavy contingents of police were deployed outside the parliament while all entry and exit routes to the Red Zone were also closed from D-Chowk, Nadra Chowk, Serena, and Marriott, except for Margalla Road.

Multiple PTI lawmakers, including Qureshi, Akram, Naseem-ur-Rehman and Zubair Khan had been arrested from the Parliament House.

Police had filed cases against several leaders of the Imran-founded party under newly-enacted Peaceful Assembly and Public Order Bill, 2024, at Noon Village and Sangjani police stations.

At least 28 local leaders including Seemabia Tahir and Raja Basharat were also nominated in the cases.