November 26 Protest
An Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Rawalpindi on Friday sentenced 82 Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) workers to four months in prison and imposed a fine of Rs15,000 each after they pleaded guilty in connection with the violent protest that took place on November 26, 2024.
The protest was organized to demand the release of PTI’s incarcerated founder, the 71-year-old former prime minister and cricketer-turned-politician, who has been in custody since August 2023. He is currently facing multiple legal cases, including charges of corruption and terrorism, following his ouster from office via a no-confidence vote in April 2022.
The protest, part of a three-day nationwide demonstration organized by PTI, descended into violence when confrontations broke out between law enforcement agencies and demonstrators. These clashes tragically led to the martyrdom of at least three personnel of the Pakistan Rangers and one police officer.
During court proceedings, the 82 accused individuals confessed to participating in the protest and accepted responsibility for their actions. They submitted affidavits acknowledging that the PTI leadership had incited them to take part in the demonstration.
Pleading for leniency, the convicted individuals told the court they were poor labourers and claimed they had been manipulated by both local and central party leadership into joining the protest. They also assured the court in writing that they would abstain from participating in any future protests.
The ATC ruling comes amid broader legal proceedings against PTI members in connection with various demonstrations. Of the 1,609 defendants who appeared in court related to the November 26 protest, 560 have so far been indicted.
In a related development, the Supreme Court approved the bail applications of PTI Senator Ejaz Chaudhry and party member Farhat Abbas, who were facing charges related to the May 9 incidents. A three-member bench led by Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan granted bail to both individuals, ordering them to submit surety bonds worth Rs100,000 each.
During the hearing, the special prosecutor alleged that Senator Ejaz was involved in a conspiracy to incite violence. However, Justice Afghan remarked that if the accusations were as severe as claimed, the case should have been tried in a special court. He emphasized that bail could not be used as a punitive measure.
In Farhat Abbas’s case, the court noted that he had been declared an absconder by the trial court. Nonetheless, Justice Afghan highlighted that since the investigation had been completed and the charge sheet submitted, there was no longer a justification for detaining Abbas.
The special prosecutor committed to concluding the trial within four months, prompting Justice Afghan to instruct that the trial be completed within that time frame.
The court then granted bail to both Ejaz Chaudhry and Farhat Abbas, marking a significant legal reprieve for the PTI leadership.
