- Omar Ayub, others booked in 2024 PTI protest case.
- ATC Judge Tahir Abbas Supra cancels arrest warrant.
- Next hearing in Shahzad Town protest case set for July 30.
ISLAMABAD: An anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Islamabad on Thursday cancelled the arrest warrant issued for Opposition Leader in the National Assembly Omar Ayub Khan in connection with a PTI protest held in October last year.
ATC Judge Tahir Abbas Supra, who issued a bailable arrest warrant for the opposition leader earlier in the day, has suspended the warrant after the latter’s lawyer appeared in the court and submitted an exemption plea.
The case was registered at Shahzad Town police station against Ayub and other PTI leaders following clashes between the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) supporters and police on October 4, 2024.
However, in today’s ATC hearing, Senator Azam Swati was granted an exemption from personal attendance, following a request submitted the previous day.
The court adjourned further proceedings until July 30.
Meanwhile, the lower court of Islamabad on Thursday announced its decision in two cases filed under the Peaceful Assembly and Public Order Act, linked to the PTI protest on November 26.
Judicial Magistrate Ahmed Shehzad Gondal and Mureed Abbas announced the reserved verdict.
As many as 12 PTI workers were sentenced to six months in prison, while one PTI worker was acquitted in the case.
Today’s development follows recent anti-terrorism court rulings that handed down prison sentences of up to 10 years to senior PTI leaders in connection with the May 9, 2023, riots.
An anti-terrorism court (ATC) on Tuesday sentenced several PTI leaders, including Dr Yasmin Rashid and Mian Mehmood ur Rasheed, to 10 years in prison each in connection with the May 9 case.
The court also awarded sentences to former Punjab governor Omar Sarfraz Cheema, PTI Senator Ejaz Chaudhry, and Afzal Azeem Pahat in the same case.
However, the court acquitted former foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Hamza Azeem Pahat, Rana Tanveer, and Aizaz Rafiq in the case.
The same day ATC in Sargodha also sentenced Punjab Assembly Opposition Leader Ahmed Khan Bachar, MNA Mohammad Ahmed Chattha and several other PTI workers to 10 years each in prison in a vandalism case related to May 9 riots.
