An Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Islamabad has dismissed pre-arrest bail applications filed by Bushra Bibi and several Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders in cases related to protests. The decision was announced during proceedings before ATC Judge Abul Hasanat Zulqarnain.
The court heard a total of 250 bail applications submitted by PTI leaders and party workers in connection with protest-related cases. Among those whose pre-arrest bail applications were rejected were Bushra Bibi, Asad Qaiser, Junaid Akbar, Latif Khosa, Naeem Panjutha, Ali Zaman, Iman Waseem, Atif Khan and Fazal Muhammad.
During the hearing, PTI leaders Raoof Hasan and Shehryar Afridi appeared before the court and marked their attendance. The proceedings also addressed the interim bail status of party workers who attended the hearing.
The court extended the interim bail of PTI workers who appeared before it until February 11. However, Judge Abul Hasanat Zulqarnain dismissed the bail applications of leaders who failed to appear during the proceedings.
The ruling is a development in the ongoing legal proceedings involving PTI leaders and workers in cases linked to protests. The dismissal means the applicants whose pleas were rejected did not obtain the pre-arrest bail protection they had requested in these cases.
The cases remain part of the wider legal proceedings connected to protest-related allegations against PTI figures and workers. The court’s decisions concern bail applications and should be distinguished from any final determination of guilt in the underlying cases.
