ISLAMABAD -  Special Anti Terrorism Court Islamabad Wednesday granted interim bail to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leaders, including Shireen Mazari, Asad Umar and Arif Alvi in terrorism related cases registered against them during the party’s sit-in in 2014.

ATC Judge Shahrukh Arjumand conducted hearing of the case and accepted their bail pleas after they surrendered before the court in terrorism cases registered against them on charges of attacking Senior Superintendent of Police Asmatullah Junejo, Pakistan Television Corporation (PTV) building and Parliament during the sit-in of 2014.

Mazari, Umar and Alvi are among at least 28 others who were nominated in these cases. The PTI leaders were granted bail after they surrendered and appeared in court for the first time since being nominated. The court ordered them to pay Rs100000 in surety bonds to secure their bail.

However, the leaders requested the court to accept their bail sum in cash instead of bonds which was accepted by the ATC judge. But, the court declined the PTI leaders’ request to reschedule the next hearing to be held on January 23 since an accountability court will hear an ongoing corruption reference against former premier Nawaz Sharif on the same date.

Earlier, Mazari exchanged heated words with the security staff for refusing to allow her car’s entry into the judicial complex. She said that Nawaz Sharif is allowed in court premises with a motorcade but denied entry to them.

Talking to the journalists outside the courtroom, Alvi dispelled the impression that PTI was entering into an alliance with the Pakistan People’s Party. He sarcastically said that PTI workers would never respond to PPP Co-chairman Asif Zardari’s “call for corruption”.

Narrating the reason behind joining the Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT)’s protest which will also be joined by the PPP, the PTI leader said that his party was only joining the protest to demand justice for the 2014 Model Town’s killings.

OUR STAFF REPORTER