ISLAMABAD (Web Desk) – An Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Islamabad has granted pre-arrest bail to four senior Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders in multiple cases connected with the November 26 protest and other proceedings involving the Supreme Court.
The court approved the bail applications of former National Assembly speaker Asad Qaiser, former Khyber Pakhtunkhwa minister Atif Khan, lawyer and politician Latif Khosa, and former provincial minister Faisal Amin Gandapur after hearing their respective petitions.
ATC Judge Abul Hasanat Zulqarnain announced the decision, granting temporary legal protection to all four leaders until February 11.
Under the court’s order, each of the applicants was directed to submit surety bonds worth Rs5,000 to secure the pre-arrest bail.
The decision provides temporary relief to the PTI leaders in the cases covered by the court orders, allowing them to remain protected from arrest under those cases while the proceedings continue.
### Different bail relief granted to four leaders
According to the court’s order, the number of cases covered by the bail decisions varied for each politician.
Asad Qaiser received pre-arrest bail in nine cases, making his application the largest among the four petitions decided by the court.
Atif Khan was granted bail in four cases, while Latif Khosa obtained relief in three cases.
Faisal Amin Gandapur received pre-arrest bail in six cases.
The court directed all four applicants to fulfil the surety requirements and comply with the conditions attached to the relief.
The individual bail orders cover cases associated with the November 26 protest and matters relating to the Supreme Court.
Earlier applications dismissed over absence
The latest decision came after an earlier development in which the bail applications of the four PTI leaders were dismissed by the court because of their absence during the proceedings.
Following the dismissal, the politicians submitted fresh applications seeking pre-arrest bail to obtain protection against possible arrest in the pending cases.
Their latest petitions were subsequently taken up by the court, which heard the applications before approving the requested relief.
The fresh applications provided the four leaders another opportunity to seek judicial protection after the earlier proceedings ended without the desired relief.
The court’s latest decision means the applicants have obtained temporary protection for the specified period, subject to compliance with the requirements set out in the orders.
November 26 protest cases remain a legal concern for PTI
The cases connected with the November 26 protest have remained an important legal issue for several PTI leaders and party workers.
The protest-related proceedings have involved allegations against political figures and other individuals concerning events surrounding the demonstrations.
PTI leaders have pursued different legal remedies to address the cases and protect themselves from arrest while seeking relief through the courts.
The latest ruling is another development in the party’s ongoing legal proceedings, particularly for politicians facing multiple cases in Islamabad.
However, the grant of pre-arrest bail does not mean that the accused have been acquitted or that the allegations against them have been dismissed.
The cases remain subject to further legal proceedings, and the relevant courts will determine the matters in accordance with the law.
Court decision provides temporary relief
The approval of bail applications is expected to provide temporary relief to the four PTI figures as they continue to deal with the legal proceedings.
The February 11 deadline will remain significant for their cases, as the protection granted by the court is limited to the specified period and subject to applicable judicial directions.
The leaders will be required to meet the surety conditions and comply with any further instructions issued by the court.
The development also highlights the continuing legal challenges faced by PTI leadership in connection with protest-related cases.
For now, Asad Qaiser, Atif Khan, Latif Khosa and Faisal Amin Gandapur have secured pre-arrest bail in the specified matters, while further proceedings will determine the next stage of their legal cases.
