Arrested Islamabad Protesters May Be Tried In Anti-Terrorism Court

A sessions court in Islamabad has rejected the bail application of detained workers of the Awami Workers Party (AWP) and other activists who were arrested on Tuesday at a protest against arrest of Pashtun Tahaffuz Movement (PTM) chief Manzoor Pashteen. The judge hearing the case also remarked as to why they were presented in his court and not in an anti-terrorism court.

The 19 detainees include AWP Punjab leader Ammar Rashid, Muhammad Nawfal Saleemi, Saifullah Nasar among others, who were earlier charged with sedition by the Islamabad police.

The AWP has condemned the denial of bail and said that it was a matter of shame that activists working for social justice have been declared terrorists. A statement released by the party demanded the terrorism charges against the arrested activists be dropped.

According to sources, the detainees have been made incommunicado by Adiala Jail authorities.

On Tuesday, several activists including MNA Mohsin Dawar were arrested by Islamabad police for protesting against the arrest of PTM chief Manzoor Pashteen. Dawar along with others was released after hours of detention, but a number of protesters remain in custody and have been charged with sedition.