A Rawalpindi Anti-Terrorism Court on Friday granted bail to several senior leaders of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) including Opposition Leader in National Assembly Omar Ayub and former Punjab Law Minister Raja Basharat who were arrested in connection with the GHQ gate attack case.
The arrests took place outside Adiala Jail on Thursday, following the indictment of 60 accused, including PTI chairman Imran Khan, in the case.
The court, during its hearing, expressed strong displeasure over the arrests, questioning why the accused were detained despite being granted bail by the Peshawar High Court earlier.
Judge Amjad Shah, presiding over the Special Anti-Terrorism Court, ordered the immediate release of Ayub, Basharat, and other PTI leaders, highlighting the procedural irregularities and criticizing the police for failing to adhere to the court’s previous ruling.
According to reports, the PTI leaders, along with Ahmed Chattha, Majid Daniyal, and Malik Azeem, were taken into custody by Attock Police on Thursday.
Their detention came shortly after the indictment of Imran Khan and other PTI members in the high-profile case related to the May 9, 2023, protests.
The GHQ attack, which saw violent protests following the arrest of Imran Khan from Islamabad High Court in the Al-Qadir Trust case, was one of the most significant events in the country’s recent political history.
The nationwide protests led to the destruction of military, civil, and private property, including the storming of Lahore's Corps Commander residence, known as Jinnah House.
The attackers also breached the security of the General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi. The aftermath saw at least eight fatalities, 290 injuries, and the arrest of nearly 1,900 individuals involved in the violent acts.
