The Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) has granted a 3-day physical remand for 19 individuals arrested in connection with the D-Chowk protest in Islamabad. The accused were presented before Judge Abul Hasanat Zulqarnain, where the court rejected a police request for a 20-day remand. Prosecutor Raja Naveed argued that the accused had provided valuable information leading to further arrests, and that additional recoveries were expected. He requested an extended remand to facilitate ongoing investigations. However, the court approved only a 3-day remand, bringing the total physical remand period to 11 days for the accused, during which several key revelations had been made. In a separate development, the ATC had earlier dismissed a similar request for further remand of 17 protesters arrested at D-Chowk.

Prosecutor Atif Ranjha had sought a 22-day physical remand for the accused, but their lawyer, Ansar Kayani, opposed the request. After hearing both sides, the court ordered the protesters to be sent to jail on judicial remand, rejecting the prosecutor’s request. In another case, the ATC had earlier handed over 146 individuals arrested during the same protest to the police on a five-day physical remand. The police had initially sought a 20-day remand for the group. Prosecutor Raja Naveed stated that a five-day remand had already been granted, and several seizures had been made. The court also approved a further five-day remand for these accused, as investigations continue. The cases are part of ongoing legal proceedings following the protests in Islamabad, where authorities have intensified efforts to investigate and gather evidence linked to the unrest at D-Chowk.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)