An anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Rawalpindi has sentenced 82 individuals to four months in jail for their participation in the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) protests that took place on November 24 and 26, 2024. The sentencing follows confessions made by the accused during the court proceedings. Each of the convicted individuals has also been fined Rs 15,000.
ATC Judge Amjad Ali Shah presided over the hearings, which addressed 24 separate cases linked to the PTI-led protests. In a sweeping move, the court rejected 1,074 bail applications, including those from 1,049 individuals who failed to appear and 25 others already under trial. The prosecution, led by Zaheer Shah, argued that the absentees were deliberately attempting to stall the judicial process.
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As part of its crackdown, the court directed authorities to block the national identity cards and freeze the bank accounts of the 1,074 accused. Arrest warrants were also issued for these individuals, signaling a robust legal response to the unrest.
The proceedings also spotlighted PTI leader and National Assembly Member Shandana Gulzar. Prosecutor Zaheer Shah accused her of obstructing the judicial process while posing as a lawyer. The court subsequently issued a contempt of court notice against her and scheduled a follow-up hearing for the following week.
In anticipation of the next hearing, Judge Amjad Ali Shah instructed law enforcement agencies to implement heightened security protocols. The deployment of anti-riot forces was recommended due to potential law and order concerns surrounding the ongoing legal actions against PTI members and supporters.
