The Islamabad District and Sessions Court has accepted Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) appeal against the appointment of a state counsel in the 26 November protest case. This decision reverses the earlier move by the trial court.
The case, registered under FIR No. 976 at Ramna Police Station, involved the appointment of a state counsel due to the absence of PTI’s defense lawyers. However, Additional District and Sessions Judge Aamir Zia declared this appointment null and void.
PTI had filed the appeal challenging Judicial Magistrate Ahmed Shehzad Gondal’s decision to assign a state counsel for the accused when their lawyers were not present in court. The Islamabad court sided with PTI in this matter.
In a separate case, the Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) Islamabad handed out copies of the charge sheet to PTI leader Raoof Hasan and social media activist Ahmed Janjua. This case involves the alleged recovery of explosive materials.
The ATC hearing, overseen by Judge Abual-Hasnat Muhammad Zulqarnain, was adjourned until July 28. On that date, formal charges are expected to be framed against the accused.
The case was registered at the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) police station and continues to develop as the legal proceedings move forward.