KARACHI: An anti-terrorism court (ATC) on Friday granted bail to 30 workers of Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) in a terrorism and rioting case registered after their protest near the Sindh Assembly on Feb 14.
After hearing the prosecution’s opposition to bail and arguments from defence counsel, the ATC-I Judge granted bail to the JI workers against surety bonds of Rs30,000 each.
Regarding the terrorism charge in the FIR, the court noted that it would be decided after the submission of the final charge sheet, whether the case is triable in the ATC or sessions court.
“As for Section 324 PPC is concerned, it would be determined after recording evidence of witnesses that the accused did attack at police party with intention to kill them. Accused are in jail custody and are no more required to police for further interrogation and no useful purpose would be served by keeping the applicants behind bar for an indefinite period when the matter requires further inquiry,” the judge wrote in the order.
During the arguments, counsel for the JI workers contended that no specific role, weapon attribution, injury, or identifiable property loss was assigned to the applicants in the FIR, adding that the allegations are general and omnibus in nature.
Regarding the terrorism charges, the counsel submitted that Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) is not attracted.
“Even if the FIR is accepted at face value, it discloses, at best, a law and order riot situation and does not reveal the statutory design or purpose of terrorism as required under the Act,” the defence counsel said, adding that the terrorism charge was not made out in the FIR, and the case required further inquiry.
The Arambagh police registered a case against the JI activists under Sections 147 (rioting), 324 (attempted murder), 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty) and other provisions of the Pakistan Penal Code read with Section 7 of the ATA.
Later, the JI activists were released from Karachi central prison and brought to Idara Noor-i-Haq in the form of a big rally.
Published in Dawn, February 21st, 2026