ISLAMABAD: The Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) on Thursday dismissed the pre-arrest bail petition of former National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser in a terrorism case registered in connection with the PTI’s Sangjani rally.
ATC Judge Tahir Abbas Sipra passed the order after the counsel for Mr Qaiser submitted an application seeking exemption of the former speaker from personal appearance.
During the proceedings, the judge observed that Mr Qaiser had last appeared before the court in February.
He further noted that the exemption application submitted on his behalf did not even carry his signature.
Case registered against former speaker in connection with Sangjani rally
The court rejected the application seeking exemption and subsequently dismissed Mr Qaiser’s pre-arrest bail petition.
A terrorism case has been registered against the PTI leader at Sangjani police station in connection with the rally.
Meanwhile, two PTI members of the National Assembly, Adil Bazai and Dawar Kundi, have approached the Islamabad High Court against their detention under the Maintenance of Public Order law ahead of the party’s proposed long march.
Separate petitions were filed by the lawmakers through their counsel, former federal minister Babar Awan.
The Federation, through the Advocate General, and the Deputy Commissioner of Islamabad have been made respondents in the petitions.
The petitioners submitted that the Islamabad deputy commissioner issued detention orders against them under Section 3 of the Maintenance of Public Order Ordinance on September 20, following which they were arrested and detained.
They contended that the orders were unlawful and asked the high court to declare the September 20 detention orders null and void.
The PTI lawmakers also sought directions for ensuring the safety of their lives and property during detention. They requested the court to allow them to meet their lawyers and family members and to provide them with all facilities permissible under the prison rules and regulations.
The petitions come amid legal challenges by PTI lawmakers against arrests and preventive detentions carried out ahead of the party’s planned long march.
Published in Dawn, September 25th, 2026
