A local court in Islamabad on Monday issued arrest warrants for opposition leaders Omar Ayub, Aamir Dogar, and Aamir Mughal over their failure to appear in two cases related to the violation of Section 144.
Judicial Magistrate Shahzad Khan, who presided over the hearing, accepted exemption pleas filed on behalf of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Barrister Gohar Khan and Shoaib Shaheen.
However, arguments on the acquittal applications of the accused could not be presented during the proceedings.
The cases against Barrister Gohar and other PTI leaders were registered at the I-9 police station in connection with alleged violations of the prohibitory order. The court subsequently adjourned the hearing till April 23.
56 PTI workers granted bail
Meanwhile, the Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Islamabad granted post-arrest bail to 56 PTI workers against surety bonds of Rs5,000 each.
ATC Judge Abul Hasnat Muhammad Zulqarnain issued the ruling on bail applications filed by the detainees, who were arrested in cases registered at Tarnol and Kohsar police stations following the November 26 protest. Advocate Sardar Busy represented the PTI workers during the proceedings.
It may be recalled that PTI had launched a march from Peshawar to Islamabad on November 24, 2024, under the leadership of Bushra Bibi and the Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, demanding the release of party founder Imran Khan. The march reached the federal capital late on November 25, culminating in clashes between PTI supporters and law enforcement agencies the following day.
Several people, including police personnel, were injured in the confrontation. In its aftermath, multiple cases were lodged against PTI leaders and hundreds of party workers at various police stations across Islamabad and Rawalpindi under different legal provisions, including anti-terrorism laws.