Pakistan High Court Overturns Physical Remand of PTI Lawmakers

A Pakistan high court overturned the eight-day physical remand of several Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) lawmakers arrested earlier this week. The Islamabad High Court deemed the initial anti-terrorism court's ruling invalid, mocking the FIR as comedic. The lawmakers are now held on judicial remand, with special arrangements made for their continued legislative duties.

A Pakistan high court on Friday overturned the eight-day physical remand of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) party lawmakers. The lawmakers were arrested from Parliament House earlier this week, with the court ridiculing the FIR filed against them.

Eleven parliamentarians were apprehended on Tuesday, but one was later released. They were initially remanded by an anti-terrorism court (ATC) for further investigation regarding their alleged involvement in violence at a PTI rally on Sept 8.

Chief Justice Aamer Farooq and Justice Saman Rafat Imtiaz of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) invalidated the ATC's physical remand order, sending the remaining 10 lawmakers to judicial remand. The court lambasted the FIR as comedic, highlighting implausible allegations like the supposed recovery of guns from lawyers Shoaib Shaheen and Gohar Khan.

(With inputs from agencies.)