RAWA:PINDI: An Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Rawalpindi has cancelled the interim bail of 16 Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders and workers, including Sanam Javed, Mishal Yousafzai, and Raja Basharat. The decision came after the accused repeatedly failed to appear in court, despite multiple notices.
The hearing, led by ATC Judge Amjad Ali Shah, saw Prosecutor Zaheer Shah argue that the accused had misused the leniency granted to them by the court. According to the prosecutor, Sanam Javed, along with other PTI figures, had deliberately obstructed the investigation process and taken undue advantage of their interim bail for the past four months.
The cases against Sanam Javed and the other PTI members stem from their involvement in the November 26 protests, which had resulted in multiple charges being filed under anti-terrorism laws. These charges were registered at various police stations in Rawalpindi and Attock.
In addition to Sanam Javed, the court cancelled the bail of several other prominent PTI figures, including Mishal Yousafzai, Raja Basharat, Sami Ibrahim, Javed Kausar, and Seemabia Tahir. The prosecution presented evidence to show that the accused had not followed legal procedures, leading to the court’s decision to revoke their bail.
Sanam Javed’s legal team had requested exemption from the hearing, but the court rejected these applications. Judge Shah ruled that the accused had failed to comply with court orders and had continuously missed hearings, leading to the cancellation of their bails.
Earlier in the day, PTI’s Chief Organiser for Punjab, Aliya Hamza, was arrested along with six party workers during a workers’ convention in Rawalpindi. An FIR was filed against them for interfering in government affairs and causing disturbances.
