SWABI: The Anti-Terrorism Court, Mardan, on Tuesday extended the bails of former National Assembly speaker Asad Qaiser, former MPAs and about 100 other leaders and workers of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf till July 4.

PTI leaders and workers had razed two toll plazas at the Swabi Interchange on the Islamabad-Peshawar Motorway on May 9 following the arrest of party chairman Imran Khan.

The Chota Lahor city police station had registered an FIR against the violent protesters under the Anti-Terrorist Act. However, the PTI leaders and workers had secured bail-before-arrest from ATC, Mardan, and other such courts in Peshawar and Islamabad.

Briefing mediapersons after the bail extension, former MPA Rangaiz Khan said the BBA of Mr Qaiser, his brother Aqibullah Khan, also a former MPA, Swabi tehsil council chairman Attaullah Khan and various other leaders and workers had been extended till July 4.

He said Mr Qaiser did not appear in the ATC because he was due to appear in two other cases in Islamabad. However, his brother, Aqibullah and Attaullah appeared in the court.

Rangaiz Khan said they had remained in PTI and were determined to contest the next elections on the party’s ticket, vowing that they were standing by Imran Khan through thick and thin. He claimed those who had left PTI would once again beg for rejoining it.

Published in Dawn, June 21st, 2023