ISLAMABAD: The anti-terrorism court (ATC) of Islamabad on Friday granted pre-arrest interim bail to lawyers belonging to Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) who protested outside the Supreme Court.

ATC Judge Tahir Abbas Sipra granted the bail to advocates Ateequr Rehman Siddiqui, Sardar Masroof Khan, Mirza Asim Baig, Murtaza Hussain Turi and Tariq Mehmood against Rs5,000 surety bonds each.

The court adjourned the hearing on the bail petitions till Oct 11.

The lawyers were protesting outside the Supreme Court while Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa was hearing the Supreme Court Bar Association’s (SCBA) petition on Article 63-A.

Meanwhile, the same court handed over custody of former official of the Capital Development Authority (CDA), Mustafain Kazmi, to police on four days physical remand.

Mr Kazmi as well as other lawyers of the PTI were booked under sections 7 (Punishment for acts of terrorism) and 11-X (Responsibility for creating civil commotion) along with sections 506ii (Punishment for criminal intimidation: If threat be to cause death or grievous hurt, etc), 186 (Obstructing public servant in discharge of public functions), 188 (Disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant), 353 (Assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty), 341 (Punishment for wrongful restraint) of PPC and Section 8 of Peaceful Assembly and Public Order Act 2024.

As per the FIR, Mr Kazmi along with PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar, advocates Salman Akram Raja, Abdullah Wazir, Nasim Haider Janjua, Zubair Ahmed, Niazullah Niazi, Chaudhry Ishtiaq, Tariq Noon, Bashir Ahmed, Mohammad Ahsan, MNA Latif Khosa, Atiq Siddiqi, Asim Baig, Ansar Kiani, Sardar Masroof, Barrister Malik Talha Rahim, former senator Azam Swati and Senator Shibli Faraz as well as 100 to 120 other people holding PTI flags and batons gathered outside the Supreme Court.

They blocked the road and chanted slogans against superior courts and the state.

Published in Dawn, October 5th, 2024