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153 PTI Workers Granted Bail in Islamabad Crackdown Cases
Islamabad ATC grants bail to 153 PTI workers arrested during D-Chowk protests. The crackdown continues to spark demands for transparency.
ND
by News Desk
2025-01-10
153 PTI Workers Granted Bail in Islamabad Crackdown Cases

An anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Islamabad approved bail for 153 Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) workers on Friday, following their arrest during the November 26 crackdown at Islamabad’s D-Chowk.

The arrests were part of a major law enforcement operation to disperse protesters responding to PTI Chairman Imran Khan’s call for nationwide protests demanding the restoration of the party’s electoral mandate, the release of detained members, and the reversal of the 26th Amendment, which Khan labeled as empowering a “dictatorial regime.”

Human Rights Concerns
The November 26 crackdown drew criticism from human rights groups, including Amnesty International, which called for a transparent investigation into what it termed a “deadly crackdown.” The operation led to the arrest of over 1,400 individuals by Islamabad and Rawalpindi police, as confirmed by the federal capital’s police chief.

Court Hearings and Bail Approvals
During Friday’s hearing, presided over by ATC Judge Abual Hasnat Mohammad Zulqarnain, bail petitions for 177 PTI workers were reviewed. Of these, bail was granted to 153 workers against Rs. 5,000 bonds, while the applications of 24 were rejected.

Here is a breakdown of the bail decisions by police station:

  • Karachi Company Police Station: 43 granted bail, 5 rejected.
  • Tarnol Police Station: 2 granted bail, 5 rejected.
  • I-9 Police Station: 9 granted bail, 1 rejected.
  • Kohsar Police Station (Case No. 1033): 28 granted bail, 5 rejected.
  • Ramna Police Station: 3 granted bail, 5 rejected.
  • Secretariat Police Station: All 25 granted bail.
  • Margalla Police Station: 42 granted bail, 3 rejected.
  • Kohsar Police Station (Case No. 1032): 1 granted bail.

Previous Bail Approvals
This is not the first instance of bail being granted in this crackdown. On January 3, an Islamabad ATC granted post-arrest bail to 250 PTI workers detained during the protests, while on January 6, 192 PTI members held in Jhelum district jail were also released on bail.

Legal Representation
The PTI workers were represented by a team of lawyers, including Ansar Kayani, Sardar Masroof Khan, Mirza Aslam Baig, Fataullah Burki, and Murtaza Turi.

Political and Legal Implications
The arrests and subsequent legal proceedings have further intensified political tensions in Pakistan. PTI continues to demand justice for its supporters, while human rights activists call for transparency and accountability in the state’s handling of protests.

This case highlights the intersection of legal, political, and human rights issues as Pakistan navigates its ongoing political crisis.
Tagged:

HumanRights

PTIBail

JusticeForPTI

DChowkProtests
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