IHC grants bail to 23 protesters held for sedition
Statesman Report
ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday granted post-arrest bail to 23 human rights activists who had been detained for protesting against the arrest of the Pashtun Tahaffuz Movement (PTM) leader Manzoor Pashteen last week.
Chief Justice Athar Minallah heard the plea and granted bail to the activists belonging to PTM and Awami Workers Party (AWP).
In Monday’s hearing, Justice Minallah expressed his displeasure at the Islamabad police chief’s absence from the court.
“We did not expect this of your government. You are the representative of the state here, it is the state’s job to protect its people,” Justice Minallah said to the deputy commissioner while adding that the government should admit if they are in the wrong.
“We will get to the bottom of this case. How could you question someone’s patriotism? Do you think constitutional courts will shut their eyes on a matter like this?” the chief justice remarked while giving the deputy commissioner a week’s time to consult the Islamabad IGP and come up with a report on the incident.