ISLAMABAD: While PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan was freed by Islamabad police as he was not required in any case, other leaders of the opposition party were produced before an anti-terrorism court on Tuesday over their alleged role in violence during the Sept 8 jalsa.

The ATC handed over the custody of PTI leaders Sher Afzal Khan Marwat, Shoaib Shaheen, Sheikh Waqqas Akram, Makhdoom Zain Hussain Qureshi and several other workers to Sangjani police for eight days on physical remand.

Judge Abual Hasnat Mohammad Zulqernain, however, rejected the request by Sangjani police for a 17-day remand.

Police invoked sections 324 (attempted murder), 353 (assault), 148 (rioting), 149 (unlawful assembly), 186 (causing injury to public servant), 440 (illegal use of property), 506-ii (criminal intimidation) of Pakistan Penal Code and Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act.

Earlier, Advocate Umair Baloch, brother of Shoaib Shaheen, along with other lawyers appeared before the Islamabad High Court (IHC) chief justice seeking recovery of the detained PTI leaders.

During the hearing, IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq summoned the inspector general of police, Ali Nasir Rizvi.

Upon the court’s query, IGP Rizvi said that Mr Shaheen and others, who were taken into custody, have been produced before the ATC upon registration of FIRs against them.

Published in Dawn, September 11th, 2024