250 PTI activists granted bail in 13 cases

ISLAMABAD/ LAHORE: Anti-Terrorism Court Judge Abual Hasnat Zulqarnain on Friday approved bail applications of 250 accused in 13 cases registered against the PTI over November 26 protest while rejecting the bail applications of 150 accused.

In the case registered at the Banigala police station, bail applications of 18 accused were approved after their arrest. In case number 1033 of the Kohsar police station, 43 bail applications were approved, while in case number 1032 of the same station, 43 bail applications were approved, and one was rejected. For the Shahzad Town police station case, bail of nine accused was approved. In the Noon police station case, 17 bail applications were approved, while one was rejected. In case number 1,022 of the Aabpara police station, bail was granted to 70 accused, while 25 applications were rejected. For the Banigala police station case, 30 bail applications were approved. In the Margalla police station case, bail was granted to 13 accused, while two applications were rejected.

A total of 120 bail applications were rejected in two cases from the Secretariat police station, while 10 were approved. Bail was also approved for 25 accused in the Sihala police station case and 30 accused in the Shams Colony police station case. In total, 13 cases were registered across 10 police stations.

In the D-Chowk case, Additional District and Sessions Judge Raja Asif extended Omar Ayub’s interim bail until January 9. The case was registered following the November 26 protest. Omar Ayub appeared in court with his lawyer, Babar Awan. However, the investigation officer’s absence due to leave delayed the presentation of record. Consequently, the court extended the bail and adjourned the hearing.

While speaking to the media at the District Court, Omar Ayub emphasized the PTI’s key demands. “Our stance on tomorrow’s negotiations is clear. The release of PTI’s founder, Shah Mehmood Qureshi, and other prisoners is a priority. Additionally, we demand the establishment of two commissions to investigate the events of May 9 and November 26,” he said.

He criticised the government, saying, “The PTI founder has been illegally detained. We’ve consistently maintained that disregarding the law leads to lawlessness. There is no investment, grains have disappeared and there is loadshedding even in winter.”

According to BBC Urdu, some of those released on Thursday were present at the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister’s House where they were welcomed.

“In several videos circulating on social media, it can be seen that the released men not only chanted slogans in favour of real freedom and Imran Khan but also described the May 9 attacks on military installations and other government buildings as a conspiracy against the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf.”

On January 2, the Pakistani military said it had commuted the sentences of 19 people convicted by military courts for damaging military property during the May 9 riots.

“Salman was among the 19 convicts whose mercy and clemency petitions were approved on humanitarian grounds and was released, but speaking to reporters at the CM House, Salman said that May 9 was a big conspiracy against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf and Imran Khan. My captain didn’t tell any worker to do harm. We are not free until our leader is among us.”

Similarly, after being convicted in the court martial, Muhammad Bilawal was also released on the basis of a mercy appeal from the army chief. “Although Bilawal’s apology acknowledged the mistake of being involved in the events of May 9, he said in a video message with PTI leader Sanam Javed after his release ‘You people kept me in jail for two years, I want to ask you what I was doing there. Future generations will question you and you will have to answer that question’.”

Meanwhile, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan Friday strongly denied some media reports that those released in connection with the May 9 events were welcomed at the KP CM House. When approached on his mobile phone, he denied it and said that there was ‘absolutely no truth’ in such reports.

Meanwhile, Punjab Information Minister Azma Bukhari expressed concern over the release of convicts who she claimed are repeating their previous misdeeds.

She stated that the amnesty granted to individuals involved in the May 9 riots came from the military and urged them to reconsider their decision. “If rioters are granted relief, incidents like May 9 will keep happening. The founder of PTI does not deserve forgiveness if he feels no remorse for his actions,” she asserted during a press conference.

Bukhari said her sympathies lie with the children who have become tools of chaos and violence in the country. “On the one hand, their parents plead for their release, and on the other hand, these children step out and adopt the rhetoric of their leader. If they still intend to repeat May 9-like actions, they should not be pardoned,” she stated.

She further criticised Imran Khan and KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, alleging that the Chief Minister’s residence was being used to host gatherings that celebrated anti-state activities. “The military must also think twice about offering concessions to such groups,” she emphasized. The minister warned that granting such relief to rioters would lead to repeated incidents of unrest, stressing that remorse must be a prerequisite for forgiveness.