ISLAMABAD:
A district and sessions court in Islamabad on Saturday declared Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Omar Ayub a criminal in a case related to the November 26 protest.
The court also issued permanent arrest warrants against Ayub. Judicial magistrate Shaista Kundi heard the case.
The court declared Ayub a proclaimed offender after he repeatedly failed to appear despite being summoned.
A case has been registered against Ayub at the Police Secretariat police station under section 144 and other relevant provisions.
Read: Ali Amin Gandapur and Omar Ayub declared proclaimed offenders in ‘Haqeeqi Azadi March’ cases
In February, a local court declared PTI leaders Ali Amin Gandapur and Omar Ayub criminals in two cases related to the “Haqeeqi Azadi March” and issued perpetual arrest warrants against them.
Senior civil judge Mubashir Hassan Chishti issued the orders while hearing the cases registered at Bara Kahu police station. The court observed that despite repeated summons, both the accused had not appeared in court.
In March, an anti-terrorism court in Islamabad extended the interim bail of PTI leaders in more than 230 cases related to the November 26 Sangjani rally, protests in front of the Supreme Court and other demonstrations.
ATC Judge Abul Hasnat Muhammad Zulqarnain, who heard the case, also ordered the authorities not to arrest the PTI leaders until May 21.
PTI leaders, including Umer Niazi, Raoof Hasan and Azam Swati, appeared before the court. The court ordered both sides to present their arguments in the next hearing. Multiple cases have been registered against PTI leaders at Tarnol, Ramna, Aabpara and Secretariat police stations, among others.
Case
The November 26 protests were sparked by a call by former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), for a “life or death” sit-in in Islamabad. Thousands of supporters marched towards the capital demanding the release of jailed PTI leaders, including Khan, and the resignation of the government over alleged fraud in the 2024 general elections.
The demonstrations turned violent as protesters attempted to break through barricades and enter the capital’s high-security Red Zone, leading to clashes with police and paramilitary forces, resulting in multiple deaths and injuries.
The case has a long history as an anti-terrorism court in Rawalpindi sentenced 82 PTI workers to four months in prison and fined them Rs 15,000 each after they pleaded guilty to participating in violent protests on November 26, 2024, which left three Rangers staff and a policeman dead.
The accused admitted that they were incited by party leaders, sought clemency and pledged not to join future protests, while the Supreme Court separately granted bail to PTI senator Ejaz Chaudhry and Farhat Abbas in the May 9 cases, ordering that the trial be concluded within four months.
