- AFP
- 2 Hours ago
May 9 cases: Eight PTI leaders declared proclaimed offenders
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- Web Desk
- Dec 14, 2024
ISLAMABAD: An Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) has declared eight absconding Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders as proclaimed offenders in the case related to the burning of a container at Kalma Chowk on May 9.
The court, presided over by Judge Arshad Javed, issued perpetual arrest warrants for the absconding leaders including Mian Aslam Iqbal, Hammad Azhar, Murad Saeed, Zubair Khan Niazi, Hamid Raza Gilani, Muhammad Javed, Abdul Samad, and Waseeq Qayyum.
The police informed the court that the accused had gone into hiding to evade arrest. Despite warrants being issued previously, the suspects could not be apprehended.
The court declared the PTI leaders as proclaimed offenders following a request from the police in connection with the case registered at Naseerabad Police Station.
The accused are alleged to have been involved in the arson incident during the May 9 protests, which followed the arrest of PTI Chairman Imran Khan.
ATC DISCHARGES 32 SUSPECTS, SENDS 56 OTHERS TO JAIL ON JUDICIAL REMAND
The Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Islamabad discharged 32 suspects presented for identification but ordered judicial remand for 56 others arrested during the PTI protests.
The suspects were brought before ATC Judge Abul Hasnat Zulqarnain, who expressed displeasure over their late-night transfer from Jhelum Jail to Islamabad. Police claimed the suspects were arrested on November 25 but had not yet undergone identification parades.
The police requested a 30-day physical remand of the suspects, arguing the need for recovery proceedings. However, defense lawyers strongly opposed the plea, stating that no identification parades had been conducted and accusing the police of arbitrarily detaining individuals from their homes prior to the protests.
“If these suspects are rearrested after being discharged, I will have the officers handcuffed”, the judge said angrily. He then ordered the removal of handcuffs in the courtroom and discharged 32 suspects detained in connection with cases registered at Margalla and I-9 police stations.
Separately, 56 other suspects, arrested from areas under the jurisdiction of Bani Gala, Shahzad Town, I-9, and Tarnol police stations, were also presented before the court.
The police sought a 20-day physical remand for these suspects, but the court rejected the request. Defense lawyer Anser Kayani argued that the police had not recovered anything from the suspects and accused them of making arrests solely to meet quotas.
The court dismissed the police’s request and sent all 56 suspects to jail on judicial remand.