ISLAMABAD: The Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) on Tuesday sent 146 PTI workers, including a 14-year-old teenager, on judicial remand following the expiration of their physical remand.

The individuals were arrested in connection with PTI’s D-Chowk protest.

On Tuesday, the prosecution requested ATC Judge Tahir Abbas Sipra an additional 20-day physical remand of the accused, but the defence lawyer strongly opposed the plea, particularly highlighting the case of the 14-year-old teenager.

The defence counsel argued that the adolescent, who had recently arrived in Pakistan for medical treatment with his widowed mother, was wrongfully implicated in the case.

The court was informed that no incriminating evidence or items were recovered from the youngster.

Judge Sipra inquired about evidence linking the teenager to the protests and expressed concerns over police handling of the case, noting that the accusations appeared to lack physical corroboration.

Ultimately, the court rejected the prosecution’s plea for extended physical remand and ordered that all 146 individuals be sent to judicial custody.

In a separate case, the ATC extended the identification parade of 54 PTI workers arrested in connection with a case filed with Khanna police station.

The police had requested an additional three days for the identification process, but Judge Sipra granted only a two-day extension, emphasising the high court’s directive that identification parades be completed within three days.

The judge instructed that the suspects be produced before the court after the revised timeline, underlining the importance of timely judicial procedures.

Interim bail granted to Omer Ayub

Opposition Leader in the National Assembly Omar Ayub secured interim bail in five separate cases related to protests.

The additional district and sessions court in Islamabad granted bail in cases registered with Bhara Kahu, Koral and Aabpara police stations.

Judge Raja Asif Mahmood approved Ayub’s bail in three cases with bonds set at Rs10,000 each, while Judge Mohammad Afzal Majuka granted bail in another case with a bond of Rs5,000. The courts have directed the police to present case records by December 21.

Published in Dawn, December 11th, 2024