Daily Times

An Islamabad Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) on Monday issued non-bailable arrest warrants for PTI founder Imran Khan, his wife Bushra Bibi, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur and 93 others in a case pertaining to last week’s protests in the federal capital by party supporters.

On Nov 13, Imran issued a “final call” for nationwide protests on Nov 24, demanding the restoration of the PTI’s electoral mandate, the release of detained party members, and the reversal of the 26th Amendment which he said had strengthened a “dictatorial regime”.

A day of pitched battles between security forces and PTI protesters across the federal capital ended in a hasty retreat of the party’s top leadership and supporters from the Red Zone in the early hours of Nov 27.

At least six lives were lost in the three days of protests, which included a policeman and three Rangers officials who were knocked down by a speeding vehicle, officials and hospital sources said. Claims and counter-claims over deaths purportedly caused by law-enforcement action against the PTI marchers remain a major bone of contention between the government and the opposition party.

Numerous party workers were arrested in the ensuing crackdown while multiple cases were filed. One such case was filed at the Kohsar Police Station on Nov 26 on the complaint of Station House Officer Muhammad Imran.

The police submitted a list of 96 suspects, containing the names of Imran, Bushra Bibi, CM Gandapur, former president Arif Alvi, former National Assembly speaker Asad Qaiser, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar, Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Omar Ayub, PTI Central Information Secretary Waqas Akram and several other party leaders, including Shoaib Shaheen, Ali Bukhari, Sher Afzal Marwat, Faisal Javed, Zartaj Gul and Aamir Mughal, requesting that their arrest warrants be issued in connection to the case.

ATC Judge Tahir Abbas Sipra presided over the hearing and accepted the police request, issuing non-bailable arrest warrants for the 96 suspects.

Separately, the anti-terrorism court (ATC) on Monday sent Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan on a 14-day judicial remand in connection with seven new cases. ATC Judge Amjad Ali Shah presided over the hearing, during which the court approved Khan’s remand in the New Town police station case, as well as in six other cases.

The court rejected the request for physical remand in six other cases from September 28 and October 5, and ordered that Imran Khan be sent to jail on judicial remand.Once the judicial remand was approved, Imran Khan was taken into the custody of jail police.

Imran Khan’s cell 4 had been designated as New Town police station. After being sent on judicial remand, his cell will now be part of Adiala Jail.

Earlier, Imran Khan was arrested in six cases related to the protests on September 28, October 4, and October 5. However, no arrests have been made in the 28 cases related to the November 24 protest. There are seven cases registered against the founding chairman of PTI for the protests on September 28, October 4, and October 5.

Meanwhile, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan said on Monday that incarcerated party founder Imran Khan expressed sorrow over the casualties during a crackdown on the “final call” protesters in Islamabad and ordered the PTI lawmakers to take up the issue in both houses of parliament.

Speaking to the media after meeting jailed PTI founder in Adialia Jail, the party chief said Khan has directed to submit a requisition for the National Assembly and Senate session to discuss and protest over the deaths of protesters.