ATC to announce PTI protest case verdict tomorrow

An anti-terrorism court (ATC) on Saturday announced that it would unveil its verdict in a case registered against PTI workers over the party's November 26, 2024 protest on September 28 (tomorrow) During the hearing, one of the accused insisted that the court--presided over by Judge Tahir Abbas Sipra heard the case--announce the verdict the same day. He said he was confident the decision would be based on justice and that he appeared before the court because he trusted it. Judge Sipra directed that statements of all remaining accused be recorded under Section 342 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) on Monday. During the proceedings, the judge asked the defence counsel why some of the accused were not appearing before the court. Advocate Murtaza Turi replied that raids were being conducted at the homes of PTI workers. He alleged that police personnel and men in plain clothes were arriving at the houses and first breaking cameras, adding that the accused were now afraid to appear before the court. The court subsequently adjourned further hearing of the case until September 28, when the verdict is scheduled to be announced. The case was registered at Secretariat Police Station following the PTI's botched protest in Islamabad in November 2024. Meanwhile, an anti-terrorism court in Lahore adjourned until October 3 the hearing of post-arrest bail petitions filed by senior PTI leaders Dr Yasmin Rashid and Shah Mahmood Qureshi in a case pertaining to the burning of police vehicles near Jinnah House during the May 9 riots. Duty Judge Shahid Sikandar conducted the proceedings as the relevant ATC judge, Manzar Ali Gul, was on leave.