Tariq Butt, Correspondent / AFP
An Islamabad anti-terrorism court (ATC) on Monday granted bail to 10 Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI) lawmakers arrested by the capital police last week under the Anti-Terrorism Act and the newly imposed Peaceful Assembly and Public Order Act 2024.
At least 30 people from PTI party — including the 10 MPs — were remanded in custody last Tuesday, two days after they led a major rally in the capital, Islamabad. The anti-terrorism court granted them bail of Rs30,000 ($100).
PTI has faced a sweeping crackdown since Imran Khan was jailed in August last year on a series of charges he says are politically motivated and designed to keep him from power.
The 10 MPs, some detained at their offices in the National Assembly, were charged under a new protest law and the anti-terrorism act. They were accused of violating the Peaceful Assembly and Public Order Act, passed just days before the rally was held.
At least 11 PTI MPs were detained from different areas of the federal capital following the PTI long-waited power show rally in Sangjani, Islamabad.
The PTI rallied on the outskirts of Islamabad, demanding the “immediate release” of their founder Imran Khan while criticising the government for marginalising the party as police fired tear gas to disperse the crowd.
The MPs arrested on different charges were Sher Afzal Khan from NA-41 Lakki Marwat, Malik Mohammad Aamir Dogar from NA-149 Multan II, Mohammad Ahmed Chattha from NA-66 Wazirabad, Makhdoon Zain Hussain Qureshi from NA 150 Multan III, Waqas Akram from NA-109 Jhang II, Zubair Khan Wazir from NA-42 South Waziristan Upper-cum-South Waziristan Lower, Awais Haider Jakhar from NA-182 Layyah II, Syed Shah Ahad Ali Shah from NA-33 Noshehra I, Nasim Ali Shah from NA-39 Bannu and Yousaf Khan from NA-36 Hangu-cum-Orakzai.
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