Islamabad Power Show
In a dramatic development following his arrest amidst a crackdown against the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, the chairman of the party, was released from police custody on Tuesday.
His release came a day after he was detained under the recently enacted Peaceful Assembly and Public Order Bill, 2024, which regulates public gatherings and demonstrations.
The police confirmed that Gohar had been discharged from a case registered at the Sangjani police station. This release follows a tense situation in Islamabad, where clashes erupted between PTI supporters and law enforcement agencies.
The violence was reportedly triggered when PTI workers deviated from their designated rally routes, leading to confrontations with the police.
After his release, Barrister Gohar addressed the media, vehemently condemning the police actions that occurred within the Parliament House premises.
He alleged that masked individuals had stormed the parliament, arresting at least ten of his party’s lawmakers. Describing September 9 as a “black day for Pakistan,” Gohar called for an investigation into what he viewed as an assault on parliamentary democracy.
Gohar expressed his belief that the arrests were politically motivated and aimed at undermining democratic processes. He questioned whether extending a rally beyond its scheduled timeframe constituted a crime and urged the National Assembly (NA) speaker to thoroughly investigate the incident.
In addition to Gohar, several other PTI leaders were detained, including Sher Afzal Marwat, Zain Qureshi, Sheikh Waqas Akram, Naseem-ur-Rehman, and Zubair Khan.
The police have filed cases against these leaders under the new law, with allegations including the assault on police officers and stone-pelting incidents during the rally at Chongi No 26.
An anti-terrorism court (ATC) subsequently placed senior PTI leader Shoaib Shaheen on judicial remand. The court, presided over by Judge Abual Hasnat Muhammad Zulqarnain, was informed by the prosecutor that PTI workers had used police equipment to attack law enforcement.
The prosecutor demanded a 15-day physical remand for Shaheen, arguing that it was necessary to recover police kits allegedly taken by the accused.
In response, Shaheen’s defence attorney, Riyasat Ali, denied the allegations and contended that his client was not present at the rally.
The defence played CCTV footage of Shaheen’s arrest, asserting that he was apprehended from his office, which is legally protected. The defence argued that Shaheen was accused of inciting and directing the party workers, a claim they disputed.
Following the hearing, Judge Zulqarnain reserved judgment on the physical remand request and adjourned the case. Other PTI leaders, including Sher Afzal Marwat, Zain Qureshi, Amir Dogar, Naseem Shah, Ahmed Chattha, Sheikh Waqas Akram, and Shaheen, were sent to jail for eight days on physical remand in connection with the attack on police personnel during the September 8 Islamabad rally.
In a separate legal development, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) reviewed a habeas corpus petition challenging the arrests of PTI leaders. Islamabad Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Syed Ali Nasir Rizvi appeared before the court as per a summons issued by IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq. The chief justice inquired about the detainees’ whereabouts, and the IGP confirmed they were at the anti-terrorism court.
The court was informed about complaints of police misconduct and alleged restrictions on lawyers meeting their clients. Judge Farooq indicated that the case was ongoing in the ATC and called for a review of the documents related to the arrests.
He emphasized that the legal process must unfold according to the court’s rulings and adjourned the hearing until the following day, awaiting the ATC’s decision on the matter.
The release of Barrister Gohar and the ongoing legal proceedings highlight the intense political and legal battles currently unfolding in Pakistan, reflecting broader tensions surrounding public demonstrations and political dissent.
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