IHC told: Special prosecutor would argue in appeals of PTI supporters
ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) was informed that special prosecutor would argue in appeals of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) supporters against their sentence awarded in Ramna police station attack, arson and siege case of May 9.
A division bench of IHC comprising Justice Khadim Hussain Soomro and Justice Azam Khan on Thursday heard the appeals against 10-year imprisonment sentence of convict Sohail Khan and others.
During the hearing, lawyers Babar Awan, Sardar Masroof, Advocate Amina Ali, and others appeared on behalf of the petitioners.
The state counsel informed the bench that the office of Advocate General (AG) has decided to appoint special prosecutor in this case. Therefore, he requested the court to defer the hearing.
Acceding to his plea, the IHC bench adjourned hearing until June 26.
Previously, Awan had adopted the stance that those who have been sentenced were not nominated and peaceful rally is permitted in the constitution.
He also contended that no one was injured, died or kidnapped in the case, but they said that this is terrorism. He added that according to the police, two sticks have been recovered from the accused.
Awan stated that on May 9, masked men attacked a political party’s leader in the High Court and they took him away from the premises. He continued that after the political leader was taken away, there were protests at various places.
He mentioned that according to the FIR, the accused were carrying sticks, PTI flags and firearms and the enraged accused attacked the Ramna police station. He said that according to the case, his clients’ name was not mentioned anywhere. He maintained that in this case, it should be seen that where his clients were?
In this matter, the Islamabad Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) on May 30 convicted and sentenced 11 individuals to various prison terms and fines in connection with the violence that occurred on May 9, 2023.
The charges against them included attacking the Ramna police station, assaulting police personnel, committing arson, and spreading terrorism. Among those convicted were Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Member of National Assembly Abdul Latif and former Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa MPA Wazirzada Kailashi.
Following the announcement of the verdict, four of the convicts, Muhammad Akram, Mira Khan, Shahzeb, and Sohail Khan, were arrested from the court premises. Arrest warrants were issued for the remaining seven, namely, Abdul Latif, Wazirzada Kailashi, Zaryab Khan, Samuel Robert, Abdul Basit, Shan Ali and Muhammad Yousuf. PTI MNA Abdul Latif, convicted in the case, has not yet surrendered.
The verdict, delivered by ATC Judge Tahir Abbas Sipra, stated that the accused attacked the Ramna police station, opened fire, pelted stones and attempted to kill police officials. They also set motorcycles on fire.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2025