PESHAWAR: On Wednesday, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) lawmakers Omar Ayub Khan, Zartaj Gul, and Asad Qaiser appeared before the Peshawar High Court (PHC) seeking transit bail in connection with cases filed following their party’s rally in Islamabad.
The Islamabad police had arrested PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan and several MNAs, including Sher Afzal Marwat, outside Parliament House early Tuesday morning. A total of 34 individuals were named in the charge sheet and remanded in custody, with an additional 60 individuals booked under terrorism charges.
Zartaj Gul arrived at the court to request bail, arguing that the cases against her and other PTI leaders were unjustly filed in connection with a peaceful protest in Islamabad. Similarly, Omar Ayub Khan and former National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser also sought transit bail.
Speaking to the media after their court appearance, Omar Ayub Khan expressed frustration over the treatment of PTI leaders, questioning, “Who took people from the parliament… was it some invisible force?” He condemned the forced disappearances and called for accountability from the agency heads responsible for the arrests.
Asad Qaiser reiterated the PTI’s commitment to challenging what he described as a dangerous bill introduced by the government, which he claimed benefits only one individual. He emphasized the importance of upholding the constitution and ensuring judicial independence, asserting that the current state of law and order, along with the economy, is in disarray.
Zartaj Gul stated that her petition for transit bail was filed to seek protection against potential arrest, as several PTI members had already been detained within the National Assembly premises. She argued that the cases against PTI leaders were based on the delay of the protest by two hours and highlighted concerns about possible further arrests.
In response to the incident, Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq has promised legal action against those involved in violating the sanctity of the National Assembly and arresting PTI leaders from Parliament House in the early hours. He indicated that FIRs may be lodged against police officials and other individuals involved, including those who were masked.
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