An anti-terrorism court in Islamabad has granted bail to 10 lawmakers from the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, which is led by the imprisoned former Prime Minister Imran Khan.
The MPs, who were among 30 PTI members detained last Tuesday following a major rally in the capital, were granted bail set at 30,000 rupees (about $100) each. Their arrest was linked to charges under a new protest law and the anti-terrorism act, which critics argue are designed to suppress dissent and restrict public demonstrations.
The crackdown on PTI intensified after Khan was jailed in August 2023. Khan claims that the charges against him are politically motivated, aimed at preventing him from returning to power. The party’s recent rally, which led to the MPs' detention, was held in defiance of the recently passed Peaceful Assembly and Public Order Act. This legislation, enacted shortly before the rally, is seen by rights groups as an attempt to curb freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.
The political situation in Pakistan has been tense since Khan’s arrest, which followed days of violent protests and attacks on military installations by his supporters. The military, Pakistan’s most powerful institution, has led a sweeping crackdown on PTI, but this has not diminished Khan’s popularity. In the 2024 elections, PTI-backed candidates won the most seats, despite allegations of widespread electoral fraud.
Khan, who initially came to power in 2018 with military support, was removed from office in 2022 after falling out with the military leadership. A recent United Nations panel found that Khan’s detention lacked a legal basis and seemed intended to disqualify him from running for office. This finding adds to the controversy surrounding his ongoing legal battles.
In addition to the MPs' detention, several members of PTI’s social media and press team were arrested last month on charges of “anti-state propaganda.” As the political climate remains fraught, both national and international observers continue to watch closely, noting the broader implications for Pakistan’s democracy and civil liberties.
The MPs, who were among 30 PTI members detained last Tuesday following a major rally in the capital, were granted bail set at 30,000 rupees (about $100) each. Their arrest was linked to charges under a new protest law and the anti-terrorism act, which critics argue are designed to suppress dissent and restrict public demonstrations.
The crackdown on PTI intensified after Khan was jailed in August 2023. Khan claims that the charges against him are politically motivated, aimed at preventing him from returning to power. The party’s recent rally, which led to the MPs' detention, was held in defiance of the recently passed Peaceful Assembly and Public Order Act. This legislation, enacted shortly before the rally, is seen by rights groups as an attempt to curb freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.
The political situation in Pakistan has been tense since Khan’s arrest, which followed days of violent protests and attacks on military installations by his supporters. The military, Pakistan’s most powerful institution, has led a sweeping crackdown on PTI, but this has not diminished Khan’s popularity. In the 2024 elections, PTI-backed candidates won the most seats, despite allegations of widespread electoral fraud.
Khan, who initially came to power in 2018 with military support, was removed from office in 2022 after falling out with the military leadership. A recent United Nations panel found that Khan’s detention lacked a legal basis and seemed intended to disqualify him from running for office. This finding adds to the controversy surrounding his ongoing legal battles.
In addition to the MPs' detention, several members of PTI’s social media and press team were arrested last month on charges of “anti-state propaganda.” As the political climate remains fraught, both national and international observers continue to watch closely, noting the broader implications for Pakistan’s democracy and civil liberties.
