RAWALPINDI: Ten activists of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) including its Secretary Information Raoof Hasan arrested by the Federal Investigation Agency under the “Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act 2016 (Peca)” were shifted to Adiala jail on Wednesday.

The FIR was registered with the FIA police station Islamabad against the activists, allegedly involved in “anti-state propaganda”.

Besides Raoof Hasan, the PTI media cell members who were shifted to Adiala jail were identified as Afaq Ahmed Alvi, resident of Islamabad, Hameedullah, resident of Islamabad, Rashid Mehmood, resident of Rawalpindi, Zeeshan Farooq, resident of Rawalpindi, Syed Osama Wajid, resident of Rawalpindi, Mohammad Rizwan Afzal, resident of Toba Tek Singh, Mohammad Rafique, resident of Pishin Quetta, Syed Hamza, resident of Islamabad and Liaquat Ali, resident of Islamabad.

PTI spokesperson Raoof Hasan and other activists were arrested by the Islamabad police on July 22 as the interior ministry accused the party of peddling “anti-state propaganda”.

Hasan, who was arrested last Monday, was initially placed on a two-day remand, followed by a three-day extension, and then another two-day remand for further investigation.

Judicial Magistrate Shabbir Bhatti on Tuesday sent Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Information Secretary Raoof Hasan and other activists of the party to jail on a 14-day judicial remand.

NOC dispute

Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Wednesday asked Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) and the district administration to resolve dispute related to the ‘No Objection Certificate’ for PTI’s public gathering.

IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq hinted at initiating contempt proceedings against the district administration over non-compliance with the court order.

During the course of hearing, PTI’s counsel Shoaib Shaheen argued before the court that the district administration was not complying with the judicial order.

Advocate General Ayaz Shaukat said that the PTI could hold its gathering after Jamat-i-Islami concludes its sit-in. IHC CJ urged both parties to resolve the matter mutually, warning the district administration of a show cause notice.

He advised both the PTI and district administration to deliberate upon the issue and reach a logical conclusion by Thursday (today).

Subsequently, further hearing in this matter adjourned till today.

Last week, IHC Justice Saman Rafat Imtiaz asked the district administration to decide the venue for PTI’s public gathering in accordance with the relevant constitutional provisions.

She disposed of the petition of PTI with the observation that the constitution guaranteed freedom of peaceful assembly with reasonable restrictions which could not be taken away on the pretext that a political party poses a threat.

Published in Dawn, August 1st, 2024