Bail granted to over 120 PTI workers booked for November 26 protest

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has granted bail to more than 120 workers of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) who had been booked for their involvement in the November 26 protest in the capital.

Acting Chief Justice Sarfraz Dogar ordered immediate release of all the workers behind bars, while Justice Muhammad Asif approved the bails.

This comes as a relief for the party which has been caught up with various court cases for its founder, senior members as well as workers. The court has also directed the 120 workers to submit an affidavit at the relevant police station, which would state their pledge to not commit such an ‘offense’ in future.

Lawyers Ali Bukhari, Babar Awan, Murtaza Turi, and others appeared in court. Furthermore, the court ordered the submission of surety bonds worth PKR20,000 each along with one guarantor.

In January, anti-terrorism court had granted bail to 250 PTI workers arrested for November 26 protest.

PTI to file FIR against government over November 26 incident

Earlier this month the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) had called for an independent and impartial inquiry into the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)-led protest in Islamabad on November 24-26, 2024, following a fact-finding report that contradicts the federal government’s claims about the event.

According to a statement issued on Monday, the HRCP had formed a high-level fact-finding mission that gathered testimonies from state representatives, PTI leaders, journalists, and the families of seven individuals reportedly killed during the protest.

Between November 24 and November 26, PTI supporters demanding the release of Pakistan’s jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan had broken through barricades of shipping containers in Islamabad, clashing with police despite government warnings of a forceful response. Later police used tear gas to disperse the crowds, with reports on social media of multiple fatalities and dozens injured, including journalists. Protesters also attacked media personnel, assaulting a videographer from The Associated Press and damaging his camera. Shortly after midnight, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi had warned that security forces would use live fire if protesters resorted to armed violence.