ATC sends PTI lawmaker on remand over protest

Naqvi, Alamgir among over two dozen to get bail

KARACHI:

An anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Karachi on Wednesday sent Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Member Provincial Assembly (MPA) Shahnawaz Jadoon and a dozen others on two-day physical remand over charges of terrorism, violence and rioting during a protest by PTI supporters at the Native Jetty Bridge in Keamari a day earlier.

The case against Jadoon and others was registered at the Docks police station. The court ordered the investigation officer to submit a report at the next hearing.

Speaking to journalists while leaving the court, Jadoon said that the government was using police to intimidate PTI workers. He said that he wasn't tortured but said that the 'bogus case' against him was proof that the PP had resorted to political victimisation. "We were arrested before we could even start protesting."

Jadoon is the second PTI MPA to be taken into custody within the span of a week, with Arsalan Taj already in custody in a separate case.

Dozens get bail

Meanwhile, a district and sessions judge East approved the pre-arrest bail pleas of PTI lawmaker Firdous Shamim Naqvi, Alamgir Khan and six others against surety of Rs30,000 each. They had been charged over violence during a protest at the Hassan Square intersection where police resorted to shelling as protesters pelted stones and burnt tyres. The case was registered at the Aziz Bhatti police station.

In a separate case involving five other PTI workers who were at the same protest, the court ordered the removal of sections pertaining to attempted murder from the charges. The lawyer argued that the police had used baton-charge and shelling against peaceful protesters. The court granted bail to the five accused against surety of Rs5,000 each.

Another MPA, Saeed Afridi, was also granted pre-arrest bail along with over a dozen workers in another case pertaining to violence during protests at the Banaras roundabout. The district and sessions judge West approved the bail plea against surety of Rs20,000. The case has been registered at the Pirabad police station.

Over a hundred PTI workers were detained or nominated over violence at protests that flared up across the city on Tuesday evening following a video message from party chief Imran Khan. In it, the former premier urged people to come out on the streets as law enforcers battled supporters outside his Lahore residence to arrest him. The siege outside Imran's residence ended on Wednesday following a court order.

Police resorted to shelling, with aerial firing also reported, at least at two locations - Hassan Square and Five Star roundabout. They said it was in response to protesters who were hurling stones and petrol bombs. No major loss of life or property was reported during the protests.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 16^th, 2023.