ISLAMABAD: An anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Islamabad on Saturday ordered the release of 32 individuals arrested during the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) protest at D-Chowk last month.
The suspects were presented before ATC Judge Abul Hasnat Zulqarnain for identification late at night, prompting the judge to criticize the police for the inconvenient timing.
Defence lawyer Ansar Kiyani argued that the police had detained innocent PTI workers from their homes to meet arrest quotas. The investigating officer, however, requested a 30-day remand, citing an inability to complete identification procedures since their detention on November 25.
Judge Zulqarnain rejected the remand request, ordered the removal of the suspects’ handcuffs in court, and dismissed the charges against them. He issued a stern warning to the police, stating: “If such arrests happen again, I will ensure the police are handcuffed.”
The suspects had initially been linked to cases registered at the I-9 and Margalla police stations.
The arrests stemmed from PTI’s protest in Islamabad last month, which aimed to demand the release of the party’s founder. The demonstration ended abruptly following a government crackdown at midnight, forcing the protesters to retreat from the Red Zone.
The law enforcement agencies, led by Islamabad Police, had arrested over 1,000 party supporters during the operation, according to the city’s police chief. The operation saw clashes between law enforcers and protesters, with allegations from PTI leaders that hundreds had suffered injuries from gunfire and thousands had been detained.
Police Chief Ali Rizvi denied the use of live ammunition during the operation, which was conducted in coordination with paramilitary forces. He stated that several weapons, including automatic rifles and tear gas guns, were recovered from the protest site. The area was cleared within hours.
The crackdown marked a significant moment in the political turmoil surrounding PTI’s leadership, as key figures, including Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur and Bushra Bibi, the wife of PTI founder Imran Khan, were reportedly seen fleeing the scene.
