ISLAMABAD: Hours after the arrest of 30 PTI workers from outside the Islamabad High Court (IHC) during appearance of former prime minister Imran Khan in the court, the capital police released all of them on the directives of the government.

Earlier, PTI Secretary General Asad Umer set release of the arrested workers as condition for talks with the government.

“Today’s round of negotiations with the government should not begin until innocent people arrested from outside the IHC are released,” Mr Umer said.

Police said 33 PTI workers were arrested from the IHC and shifted to Ramna police station for trying to enter the court building during hearing of a case registered against Imran Khan.

The IHC had issued a list with names of persons permitted to enter the court, police said.

The PTI workers tried to enter the court building and were therefore arrested and shifted to the police station.

They were later released on government’s directives after taking an undertaking from them.

Ramna police had registered the case against the PTI chief under section 138 (abetment of act of insubordination by soldier, sailor or airman), 500 (punishment for defamation) and 505 (statements conducing to public mischief) on April 6.

According to the FIR, the former prime minister in his speech at Zaman Park on March 19, aired on private TV channels, made allegations against a senior officer of ISI.

He also made allegations against other officers in his speeches on November 11 and 4, 2022, and October 29, 2022, the FIR said, adding that on October 28, 2022, he used offensive language against the army and the ISI chiefs and senior officers.

Besides, he also provoked extremists and put lives of family members of the senior officer in constant threats, it said.

Published in Dawn, April 29th, 2023