GUJRANWALA, April 21: The Anti-Terrorism Court No 2 on Thursday accepted bail applications of Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal MNA Qazi Hameedullah, his son Mufti Kafaitullah and 24 others involved in Gujranwala marathon case and ordered their release.

The judge directed the MNA and his son to furnish surety bonds worth Rs50,000 each and other activists Rs25,000 each.

Counsel for Qazi Hameedullah pleaded before the court that his client was an MNA and he was arrested without the permission of the National Assembly speaker which was illegal.

The police failed to produce any evidence against him. Similarly other activists, including Abu Bakar, Qadir Khan, Jehanzeb Khan, Wasil Khan and Tanvir Ahmad were vendors and implicated by the police.

The judge ordered the release of the MNA, his son and others. However, the court sent 17 activists to jail on a judicial remand for identification.

Later, talking to the press, Qazi Hameedullah denied that they had been released by the court following a deal with the government, and pledged that he would continue his struggle against un-Islamic activities being promoted by the government.

— Correspondent