An Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Islamabad granted bail to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Azam Swati in a case involving terrorism-related charges following protests and vandalism. Swati, who is currently in judicial custody, was granted post-arrest bail by Judge Abu Al-Hasanat Muhammad Zulkernain, with surety bonds set at Rs20,000. The case, registered at Sangjani Police Station, charged Swati under terrorism provisions, which his legal team argues are politically motivated.
In a related case, the ATC ordered the publication of a newspaper advertisement against Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, declaring him a proclaimed offender after failing to appear in court on vandalism charges during the PTI’s Azadi March. The court, also presided over by Judge Zulkernain, summoned Gandapur to appear by November 21, and has already issued non-bailable arrest warrants for him.
These cases are part of a broader legal crackdown on PTI leaders and activists, with approximately 350 individuals, including prominent figures like Azam Swati, Omar Ayub, and Barrister Saif, facing charges related to vandalism, terrorism, and attempted murder across various police stations in Islamabad. The charges stem from PTI-led protests that resulted in the blocking of GT Road and incidents of property damage, with some accusations involving incitement of violence and rebellion against the state.
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Swati, along with PTI leader Imran Khan and Gandapur, has also been implicated in a separate murder case involving a police constable who died following a clash with PTI supporters. The case accuses Gandapur of using state resources to fuel the violence and Swati of financially backing armed groups involved in the protests.
Further complicating the legal situation, Imran Khan and other PTI leaders have been named in an FIR filed earlier this month, accusing them of inciting violence against the state during anti-government protests. Despite government-imposed restrictions and Section 144, PTI supporters continued to demonstrate in several cities, leading to clashes with law enforcement and arrests.
