Islamabad ATC grants ex-senator Mushtaq Ahmad, 95 others bail in AJK protest case

ISLAMABAD: An anti-terrorism court (ATC) on Monday granted post-arrest bail to all 96 people, including former senator Mushtaq Ahmad, arrested in connection with a case registered over a protest held against unrest in Azad Jammu and Kashmir.

The first information report (FIR) was registered at Islamabad’s Shalimar Police Station with terrorism-related provisions on July 31.

It alleged that Ahmad led a crowd of around 400-500 people in Sector F-10. The former senator was also accused of making “incendiary” speeches on loudspeakers, forcing shops to shut down and chanting slogans against “current government institutions”.

On Monday, ATC Judge Abual Hasnat Muhammad Zulqarnain heard the suspects’ bail applications, which he approved against surety bonds of Rs5,000 each.

Advocate Imran Shafiq appeared on behalf of the former senator and Razi Tahir.

Public Prosecutor Raja Naveed Hussain Kayani appeared on behalf of the prosecution, while Sardar Bushik, Zahid Bashir Dar and Amina Ali represented other suspects.

Mushtaq had earlier been handed over to the police on a three-day physical remand on August 3. The prosecution had sought a 30-day physical remand, stating that police needed to recover a vehicle and weapons allegedly connected with the case.

The FIR said Mushtaq led protesters towards Sambal Road on July 31 with the intention of marching to Main Jinnah Avenue Road and blocking roads. It further alleged that the district administration asked him through a loudspeaker to end the gathering as it was being held without a no-objection certificate (NOC).

According to the FIR, the protesters later blocked a main road near Shalimar Plaza at around 7:10pm and vandalised a media DSNG vehicle and other private cars. It also accused them of pelting stones and “attacking” police officials, with some protesters allegedly snatching anti-riot helmets from personnel and threatening them.