IHC grants bail to activists held over arrest of Manzoor Pashteen

The Islamabad High Court – IHC grants bail to the 23 activists who were held over sedition charges last month after they protested against the arrest of Manzoor Pashteen, leader of Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM).

Pashtun was arrested last month on 18 January over multiple charges which included charges of incitement and sedition. A case was registered against him at the Dera Ismail Khan police station.

Many activists came out on the street to protest against the arrest when all of them were also held over multiple charges including sedition, rioting, public mischief and more. This also included MNA Mohsin Dawar.

Hearing the case, Islamabad High Court (IHC) Chief Justice Ahar Minallah granted bail to all the activists that were held over these charges and even criticized the government over accusing the protesters of the sedition charges that were filed against them by Police in the First Information Report (FIR).

Earlier a bail petition for the activists was dismissed and they were told that the case will be heard by an anti-terrorism court. This was termed as a serious miscarriage of justice by the petitioners counsel.

According to the counsel, this was abuse of power by the authorities.

The charges against them for rebellion have been dropped according to the deputy commissioner and Deputy Inspector General Police (IGP).

The verdict read:

The Deputy Commissioner, taking a fair stance, has sought adjournment and has assured that the matter would be reviewed in consultation with the Inspector General and the Investigating Officer in the light of principles and law enunciated by the august Supreme Court,

The hearing for the case has been adjourned until 10 February, 2020.

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