ATC issues arrest warrants, summons in PTI protest cases

ISLAMABAD: Anti-Terrorism Court Judge Tahir Abbas Supra provided copies of the challan to Senator Azam Swati in the cases registered against the PTI founder and workers regarding Nov-26 and Oct-4 protests demonstrations, and issued notices to Ali Bukhari, Shoaib Shaheen and others.

The court issued arrest warrants for the absenting accused. Cases were registered under terrorism and other sections in Noon, Kohsar, Aabpara and other police stations.

During the hearing, Sardar Muhammad Masroof Khan, Aman Ali and Murtaza Tori appeared in the court on behalf of PTI workers. Applications were filed to exempt opposition leader Omar Ayub from attending the proceedings, which were approved.

During the hearing, a supplementary was submitted regarding the Kohsar police station case, registered against Nov-26 protest. The prosecution also submitted challans for those accused whose bails could not be decided, to which the court said: “The prosecution should present arguments at the next hearing as to whether the challan of the accused, whose bail has not been decided, can be presented.”

The court adjourned the hearing of Kohsar and Noon police station cases until August 4, and the hearing of the Aabpara and Tarnol police stations until August 11.

Out of two cases of the Azadi March against the PTI founder and workers, the hearing of case number 242 of Khanna police station was adjourned without any action until Sept 5, while the process of declaring three accused of case number 243 of Khanna police station as absconders was initiated and the hearing was adjourned until August 2.

The hearing of case number 1033 of Kohsar police station was adjourned until Thursday (today), and arrest warrants were issued for the absenting accused.

During the hearing, the challan of case number 551 of Kohsar police station was also submitted to the court, in which the court issued summon notices to Ali Bukhari, Shoaib Shaheen and other accused and adjourned the hearing until Sept 6.

Senator Azam Swati, while talking to the media at the Judicial Complex, said the PTI founder was fighting a war for people and the future generations of Pakistan. “We tell the decision-makers that we respect the institutions. We demand that the PTI founder be released from jail. Our country and institutions have become silent. They should move forward. The young and educated segment of our country is leaving the country. It is important for the stability and the respect we have received in the recent Pakistan-India war that the PTI founder should be released.”