LAHORE: An anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Lahore has issued orders for the release of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) activist Sanam Javed Khan and other PTI members who were involved in the May 9 violence case.
The ATC has granted bail to several PTI leaders, including Afshan Tariq, Ali Hassan, Umair, and Faisal Akhtar, as well as Sanam Javed Khan. Each of them had to provide surety bonds of Rs 0.1 million for their bail. However, the bail plea of PTI leader Robina Jameel was rejected by the ATC.
Earlier, PTI women activists had been re-arrested shortly after being released from Kot Lakhpat Jail in Lahore. Policewomen forces detained these activists from the jail, despite their previous release. The activists' families had declined to take them home, fearing re-arrest.
The ATC's decision to release these PTI members was related to the Jinnah House attack case. The court approved the bail pleas of several PTI activists, including Sanam Javed Khan, Robina Jameel, Afshan Tariq, Ashma Shuja, Shah Bano, Faisal Akhtar, Qasim, Ali Hasan, and Hussain Qadri.
In the events of May 9, violent clashes erupted across Pakistan following the arrest of former Prime Minister and PTI chief Imran Khan at the Islamabad High Court.
Protests occurred in various cities, and PTI party workers were upset about their leader's arrest. Balochistan, Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Islamabad called on the armed forces to maintain law and order during these protests. Notably, Army installations and the Corps Commander's residence in Lahore were targeted during the PTI worker's demonstrations. It was reported that Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Operations Ali Nasir Rizvi sustained serious injuries while attempting to disperse the crowd.
