PTI leaders seek transit bails from Peshawar High Court over Islamabad rally cases

Pakistan Tehreek Insaf (PTI) lawmakers including Omar Ayub Khan, Zartaj Gul, and Asad Qaiser, appeared at the Peshawar High Court (PHC) on Wednesday seeking transit bail in connection to cases filed after party's rally in Islamabad.

Islamabad police had arrested PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar and MNAs including Sher Afzal Marwat outside Parliament House following a National Assembly session in the early hours of Tuesday.

In total 34 people were named on the charge sheet as having been remanded in custody. PTI leaders, 60 others were booked in terrorism case

Today, PTI's Zartaj Gul arrived at the court to request bail after being named in a case related to a protest held in Islamabad.

Similarly, NA opposition leader Omar Ayub Khan and former NA speaker Asad Qaiser also filed for transit bail at the court.

Following the courtroom visit, the PTI leaders spoke to media.

Ayub expressed frustration over the treatment of PTI leaders. "Who took people from the parliament..[was it]some invisible force?"

"People were forcibly disappeared, which cannot be allowed in a democracy".

"It’s enough now... action must be taken against the agency heads," he stated.

The MNA further demanded that cases be registered against the officials responsible and that they be held accountable.

Meanwhile, Asad Qaiser, while addressing the media, said, “I have come to the [Peshawar High] court for bail".

He noted that the PTI lawmakers are trying to reach the assembly today.

"We will go to any extent to stop the dangerous bill the government is bringing, which is meant to benefit one individual.”

He added that PTI was undeterred by the challenges it faces and is committed to moving forward, emphasising the importance of upholding the constitution and ensuring judicial independence.

"The country cannot function in this manner. The law and order situation, as well as the economy, are in disarray. We must prioritise the supremacy of the constitution and a free judiciary."

Gul, while speaking to media informed that she had filed a petition for transit bail, she argued that cases were wrongfully registered against her and other PTI leaders for organising a peaceful protest in Islamabad.

The petition highlighted that the administration filed cases against PTI leaders for delaying the protest by two hours.

It further mentioned that several PTI members had been arrested within the National Assembly’s premises, and there is concern that Gul may also face arrest.

The request for bail seeks protection so she can appear before the relevant court.

Following the heated exchanges at NA yesterday, the speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq had promised legal action against all those involved in violating sanctity of the lower house of parliament and arresting members of the PTI leaders from the premises of the Parliament House in the dead of night, saying he would nominate people - police officials and masked men -- among others in FIR as well if needed.