D-Chowk protesters denied bail

ISLAMABAD:

Additional District and Sessions Judge of Islamabad Muhammad Afzal Majoka on Monday rejected the post-arrest bail applications of 20 activists arrested in a case registered at the Tarnol police station over the D-Chowk protest on November 26.

During the hearing defence lawyer Ansar Kiani and Prosecutor Chaudhry Zahid Asif appeared in the court.

The court expressed displeasure with the police for not presenting the record. The prosecutor assured the court that the record would be presented soon.

Kiani said in his arguments that the police had arrested 56 protesters, out of which 36 were discharged from the case, while 20 remain in jail. He added that only two law provisions in the case were non-bailable. "The police even did not do geo-fencing, while there are no evidences," he said.

Prosecutor Asif said protest in Islamabad had become a routine. He added that no innocent person was made accused in this case, except for those who committed crime. He requested the court to reject the bail applications of the accused.

After hearing arguments, the court reserved its decision. Later, the court rejected the applications of all 20 accused.