ATC Denies Bail for 150 PTI Members
An Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Islamabad made a crucial decision on Friday regarding the bail applications of individuals involved in the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) protests that took place on November 26. The court granted bail to 250 individuals across 13 cases filed in various police jurisdictions in the federal capital. However, the court rejected the bail pleas of 150 other accused individuals connected to the same protests.
Varying Outcomes in Different Cases
Among the cases heard by the court, 18 detainees linked to the Bani Gala case were granted post-arrest bail, while in a case registered at Kohsar Police Station, bail was denied to all accused. Additionally, nine individuals involved in the Shahzad Town police case were granted bail, with one application rejected.
At Noon Police Station, 17 individuals were successful in securing bail, except for one rejected application. The Aabpara police case saw 70 individuals granted bail, while 25 applications were rejected. In the Margalla police station case, 13 individuals were granted bail, but two bail pleas were dismissed.
Furthermore, the court denied bail to 120 individuals associated with two Secretariat police cases, while granting bail to 10 others. Bail applications from various police stations, including I-9, Shams Colony, and Sihala, saw a mix of approvals and rejections, leading to differing outcomes for PTI members involved in the protests.
PTI Presents Demands in Talks
In a separate development, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) initiated the second round of talks with the government, presenting two major demands. The party called for the establishment of a judicial commission to investigate the events of May 9 and November 26, as well as the release of all political prisoners, including its founding chairman, Imran Khan.
A delegation from PTI, comprising notable party figures such as Omar Ayub, Raja Nasser Abbas, Asad Qaiser, Sahibzada Hamid Raza, and Salman Akram Raja, arrived at the Parliament House for negotiations. Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur later joined the delegation, which was chaired by Speaker of the National Assembly, Sardar Ayaz Sadiq.
During the talks, PTI representatives reiterated their demands for a judicial commission and the immediate release of Imran Khan and other detained party members and workers. Asad Qaiser emphasized that while progress in the initial meetings had been limited, the party was committed to presenting its case and listening to the government’s perspective.
