ATC rejects pre-arrest bail for three PTI MNAs

ISLAMABAD:

Hearings on pre-arrest bail petitions filed by three PTI MNAs, including Asif Khan, Sajid Khan Mohammad and one other, in the November 26 D-Chowk protest case, were heard on Monday in the anti-terrorism court in Islamabad.

All three bail pleas were rejected by Judge Tahir Abbas Supra due to the fact that the petitioners did not present themselves in court.

On November 13, PTI chairman Imran Khan made a “final call” for nationwide protests to be held on November 24, demanding the restoration of PTI’s electoral mandate, the release of imprisoned party members, and the reversal of the 26th Amendment, which he claimed had empowered a “dictatorial regime.”

The protest was held in D-Chowk, Islamabad, where people travelled from different provinces to honour Khan’s call. The state had rejected any room for negotiation and an operation was conducted against the protestors, and the PTI leadership fled the scene. The protest ended with the operation on November 26.

On November 25, a policeman was killed during clashes with protesters at the Jandial checkpoint near Taxila, as Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) supporters continued to push through roadblocks and barricades on major highways to advance towards Islamabad.