Gohar released; Marwat, six other PTI leaders sent to jail

ISLAMABAD: PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan was released from police custody on Tuesday, whereas Sher Afzal Marwat and six other party leaders were sent to jail a day after their arrest for allegedly violating Peaceful Assembly and Public Order Act 2024 – the newly enacted law which intends to regulate public gatherings in the federal capital.

The lawmakers appeared at an anti-terrorism court in Islamabad where a judge remanded them in custody for eight days, an AFP journalist witnessed. In total 34 people were named on the charge sheet as having been remanded in custody.

The police said in a statement that the Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman had been discharged from a case registered in Sangjani police station, Geo News reported.Talking to journalists after his release, Barrister Gohar slammed police actions within the Parliament House premises, saying men with covered faces stormed the parliament and arrested at least 10 of party’s lawmakers. “This time, a CCTV footage [of the arrests] will be made public,” the PTI chief said, calling September 9 “a black day for Pakistan”.

Furthermore, he said they believe the arrests were an attack on parliament, urging the National Assembly Speaker to investigate the matter. “Our leaders forgave all the hardships they faced for the sake of the country, people, and democracy,” he said, adding: “We stayed in parliament so we could play our role.”

He also questioned whether it was a crime to prolong a rally beyond its designated timeframe. The police, a day earlier, arrested a number of party leaders in several cases, including the reported attack on police at Chongi No 26 — which turned into a battleground as PTI workers and law enforcement agencies clashed after the former deviated routes leading to Sangjani, the venue of public gathering.

Meanwhile, an anti-terrorism court (ATC) on Tuesday sent senior PTI leader ShoaibShaheen on judicial remand in a case pertaining to the violation of Peaceful Assembly and Public Order Act 2024.

During the hearing — conducted by ATC Judge Abual Hasnat Muhammad Zulqarnain, Prosecutor Raja Naveed demanded Shaheen’s 15-day physical remand, claiming they have to recover “police kits” available with the accused.

“They [PTI workers] attacked the police by using the law enforcers’ equipment,” the prosecutor said.Judge Zulqarnain sought the timeframe of a public gathering given to the Imran Khan-founded party. To which, Naveed replied they were allowed to demonstrate between 4pm to 7pm.

The prosecutor also pointed out that a new law regarding “public order” has been enacted — which according to the lawyer was violated by the party. He also accused PTI leadership of provoking workers and supporters. For his part, Defence Attorney Riyasat Ali denied the claims and said his client was not present at the occasion. He also played the CCTV footage of Shoaib’s arrest in the courtroom, showcasing how the lawyer was arrested. He argued that Shaheen was arrested from his chamber, which has protection as per law.

Replying to Judge Zulqarnain’s question regarding the role of the PTI leader in the clashes, the defence lawyer said the latter has been accused of “provoking and directing” the party workers. On the other hand, ATC Judge Zulqarnain sent other PTI leaders, including Sher Afzal Marwat, Zain Qureshi, Amir Dogar, Naseem Shah, Ahmed Chattha, Sheikh Waqas Akram and Shaheen, to jail on eight-day remand in a case registered at Sangjani police station related to attack on police personnel near Chongi No 26 area during the party’s September 8 Islamabad power show.