Daily Times

A Lahore anti-terrorism court (ATC) declared on Saturday eight PTI leaders as proclaimed offenders in the case of burning a container at Kalma Chowk on May 9.

According to details, the court, presided over by Judge Arshad Javed, issued permanent arrest warrants for the accused. “The accused have gone into hiding fearing arrest,” the police told the court.

The leaders, including Mian Aslam Iqbal, Hammad Azhar, Murad Saeed, Zubair Khan Niazi, Hamid Raza Gilani, Mohammad Javed, Abdul Samad, and Wasiq Qayyum, were accused of being involved in the violent incidents.

The court had now ordered their permanent arrest.

An Islamabad anti-terrorism court (ATC) discharged on Saturday 32 individuals who had been arrested in connection with the D-Chowk protest, following the failure of the police to conduct an identification parade.

According to details, Judge Abul Hasnat Zulqarnain, presiding over the case, issued the ruling after hearing the case against the accused. The 32 detainees, who had been sent for identification parades, were presented in court late at night. Judge Zulqarnain warned that if the individuals were re-arrested, the police officers involved would face handcuffing.

The investigation officer stated that the protesters were arrested on November 25, but an identification parade could not be carried out. The officer further requested physical remands of 30 days for each of the suspects.

Defence lawyer Ansar Kiyani argued that the police had failed to conduct the identification parade and were seeking remand for recovery purposes.