An anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Lahore on Friday approved interim bails of top leaders of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) in Punjab after it issued non-bailable arrest warrants for them over alleged vandalism and damage of property on May 25, during the Azadi March.
The ATC had issued non-bailable arrest warrants for the PTI leaders earlier. According to the court order issued Thursday, investigating officer Muhammad Saleem had requested the issuance of non-bailable arrest warrants for PTI leaders Mian Akram Usman, Muhammad Zubair Khan Niazi, Imtiaz Mehmood Sheikh, Mian Mehmood ur Rasheed, Mian Shafqat Mahmood, Malik Nadeem Abbas, Murad Raas, Mian Aslam Iqbal, Yasir Gilani, Dr Yasmin Rashid, Hammad Azhar, Andleeb Abbas, and Ijaz Chaudhry.
PTI leaders whose warrants had been issued reached out to the court for interim bails. The court, after accepting their pleas, directed each of the petitioners to submit Rs100,000 as the surety against bails.
Former energy minister Hammad Azhar said that Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Vice President Maryam Nawaz want to make this country a “police fascist state”.
“A criminal [lady] issues directives from PM House to include sections pertaining to terrorism. I ask: where are the law and Constitution?”
Hammad warned that the country would become a “police fascist state” if the law and Constitution don’t raise their voice today.
“All these people standing with me are respectable citizens of society. They are not terrorists,” said Hammad.
Last month, the Punjab Police had registered a total of 42 criminal cases against PTI’s senior leaders and workers for alleged agitation in the aftermath of the Azadi March held on May 25.
However, PTI Chairman Imran Khan admitted that during the Azadi March, PTI protesters were carrying weapons with them.
“Our people had pistols on them too. I was afraid that the country will now face riots,” Khan told anchorperson Moeed Pirzada while speaking on 92 News‘ political talk show ‘Hard Talk’.
