Four PTI female workers rearrested after release

LAHORE:

Shortly after their release from Kot Lakhpat Jail, four PTI female activists, who were allegedly involved in creating a law and order disturbance and attacking Jinnah House following the arrest of party Chairman Imran Khan on May 9, were rearrested outside the prison. They were apprehended in connection with an FIR registered at Sarwar Road Police Station.

The individuals taken into custody were identified as Sanam Javed, Afshan Tariq, Ashmia Shujah, and Shah Bano Gorchani. They were transported in a prison van and subsequently transferred to a women's police station. While en route, Sanam Javed exclaimed, "again arrest," confirming her detention.

Earlier in the day, an anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Lahore had issued their release orders after the accused had provided their surety bonds. There was a significant police presence outside Kot Lakhpat Jail during their release.

However, following their release, sources suggested that the four female activists could face further arrests.

Meanwhile, the prosecution decided to challenge in the high court bails granted to those allegedly involved in attacking the Jinnah House. Consultation for the preparation of an application in this regard was under way.

Read More: PTI’s detained women workers deny mistreatment

On Saturday, of the 63 accused persons, an ATC granted post-arrest bail to nine and dismissed pleas of 39 allegedly involved in creating a law and order situation on May 9.

Judge Arshad Javed granted bails to Sanam Javed, Shah Bano Gorchani, Ashmia Shujah, Rubina Jameel, Mubeen Qadri, Syed Faisal Akhtar, Ali Hassan, Afshan Tariq, and Muhammad Qasim.

However, the ATC judge fixed next date in pre-arrest bails of the 13 accused for further proceedings.

The prosecution had placed its arguments that the accused were involved in creating law and order situation and that there was substantial evidence of their involvement in the attack on Jinnah House.
It requested the court to dismiss their bail pleas.

However, the counsels for the accused contended that the accused had been implicated in a forged case merely to humiliate them despite the fact that they had nothing to do with this case. They requested the court to grant them bail.

The ATC judge after hearing detailed arguments, granted bails to nine and dismissed the post-arrest pleas of 39 accused, including Khadija Shah.

The Sarwar Road police had registered an FIR against the accused over allegedly creating chaos and attacking Jinnah House following the arrest of PTI chief.

Last week, a provision of sedition was added to the challans of all the suspects, including the PTI chairman for his alleged involvement in the May 9 mayhem.

SSP Investigation Lahore Dr Anoosh Masood Chaudhry said Section 120-B (punishment for criminal conspiracy) of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) had been imposed in all the cases including the primary one of the May 9 violence.

She added that the addition of the sedition provision was a substantial move in the ongoing legal proceedings.

Police said that despite the absence of the PTI chairman at the scene of the May 9 violent events, there was evidence of Imran inciting his activists and planning a rebellion against the state.

Read More: ATC extends remand of Khadija Shah, others in Jinnah House attack case

According to the police, the provision of sedition had been added after the prosecution objected to the challans.

Therefore, they added that all the objections of the prosecution had been removed before submitting the challans.

The party finds itself in hot water following the events of May 9, when in an unprecedented show of vandalism, protesters allegedly belonging to the PTI, vandalised public and state properties and even attacked the General Headquarters in Rawalpindi and Lahore’s Jinnah House, where the city’s corps commander was residing.

The attacks occurred hours after the paramilitary Rangers arrested the PTI chief in the Al-Qadir Trust corruption case – later retitled as National Crime Agency £190 million scandal – on the orders of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), from the Islamabad High Court premises.

The rioting was followed by a harsh crackdown against the former ruling party leaders and activists.

The army termed the events of May 9 a “dark chapter” and announced its intent to try the protesters under relevant laws, including two military laws — the Pakistan Army Act and Official Secrets Act.

The decision was backed by the National Security Committee – the country’s top security panel.
It was approved by the federal cabinet wherein it was decided that the protesters who ransacked and vandalised military installations on May 9 would be tried under the Army Act and Official Secrets Act.