ISLAMABAD
\nAn anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Islamabad has discharged 32 individuals arrested during Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf\u2019s (PTI) protest at D-Chowk.
\nThe suspects were presented for identification before ATC Judge Abul Hasnat Zulqarnain late at night, prompting the judge to express displeasure at the timing.
\nDefence lawyer Ansar Kiyani argued that police had arrested innocent workers from their homes to meet quotas. The investigating officer requested a 30-day remand for the suspects, citing failure to complete identification procedures since their arrest on November 25.
\nJudge Zulqarnain ordered the suspects\u2019 handcuffs to be removed in court and discharged them from the cases.
\nHe sternly warned the police against re-arresting them, saying: \u201cIf police do this again, I will have them handcuffed.\u201d
\nThe suspects were previously linked to cases filed at I-9 and Margalla police stations.
\nThe former ruling party\u2019s much-hyped protest last month in Islamabad, aimed at securing the PTI founder\u2019s release, had culminated in the party\u2019s hasty retreat after the government\u2019s midnight crackdown on the protesters.
\nThe party\u2019s protesters were dispersed from the Red Zone in Islamabad following a crackdown by law enforcers with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur and PTI founder Imran Khan\u2019s wife Bushra Bibi taking to their heels, fleeing the protest site.
\nThe law enforcement agencies had arrested more than 1,000 supporters of the party who stormed the federal capital to demand his release, the city\u2019s police chief said talking to Reuters on November 27.
\nKhan\u2019s aides had alleged, without immediately providing evidence, that hundreds had suffered gunshot wounds during chaotic scenes overnight in the heart of Islamabad as police dispersed protesters led by Khan\u2019s wife who had broken through security barricades. They also said thousands had been arrested.
\nIslamabad\u2019s police chief, Ali Rizvi, had denied that live ammunition had been used during the operation, which he said police had conducted alongside paramilitary forces.
\nHe had said weapons, including automatic rifles and tear gas guns, were seized from the protest site where thousands had gathered. The site was cleared in a matter of hours.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
ISLAMABAD An anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Islamabad has discharged 32 individuals arrested during Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf\u2019s (PTI) protest at D-Chowk. The suspects were presented for identification before ATC Judge Abul Hasnat Zulqarnain late at night, prompting the judge to express displeasure at the timing. Defence lawyer Ansar Kiyani argued that police had arrested innocent workers from […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-449419","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-top-news"},"yoast_head":"\n