ATC declares Shireen Mazari innocent in 2014 sit-in cases

ISLAMABAD: An anti-terrorism court (ATC) on Thursday declared Shireen Mazari innocent in all four cases related to the attack on the Pakistan Television (PTV) and then SSP Islamabad (Operations) Asmatullah Junejo during the 2014 sit-in in the federal capital.

ATC Judge Shahrukh Arjumand was hearing the cases against PTI leaders and Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) chief Tahirul Qadri when dismissed the terrorism charges against Mazari and ordered return of surety bond worth Rs100,000 to her in all cases.

The judge also extended bail of four senior leaders of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) including Arif Alvi, Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Asad Umar and Shafqat Mehmood.

Earlier on January 17, Mazari appeared before the ATC for first time to seek pre-arrest bail. The court then granted bail to her against the surety bond in each case.

Talking to media after court proceedings, PTI leader Shah Mehmood Qureshi deplored incorporation of terrorism charges in the cases filed against the political leaders.

Earlier on Nov 14, the ATC had granted bail to Imran Khan after he surrendered before the court.

Judge Shahrukh Arjumand had approved the bail for Khan against a surety of Rs200,000 in each case and directed him to cooperate with the investigation officer in connection with investigation of the cases.

Police had booked PTI leaders and Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) chief Tahirul Qadri along with their supporters in a number of cases during the 2014 sit-in calling for the resignation of the then prime minister Nawaz Sharif.

In a case, 70 people were booked after a mob of protesters belonging to the PTI and PAT stormed PTV headquarters and forced its staff to take two of the state broadcaster’s flagship channels — PTV News and PTV World — off the air on Sept 1, 2014.

The protesters were also charged with attacking government properties including the Parliament House building.

Another case related to the attack on then-Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Operations Asmatullah Junejo who was on duty at the sit-in.