PTI Leadership and Lawyers Abandon Workers in November 26 Protest Cases, Court Appoints State Counsel

Islamabad: During the hearing of cases related to the November 26 protest, the leadership and legal representatives of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) failed to appear in court to defend their party workers, leaving them without legal support.
According to reports, no PTI lawyer appeared before the District and Sessions Courts in Islamabad to represent the arrested party workers. As a result, the court appointed state counsel to proceed with the cases.
Judicial Magistrate Ahmed Shehzad Gondal presided over the hearing and expressed concern over the lack of cross-examination even when a lawyer does appear. In protest case number 976, Advocate Kifayatullah was appointed as state counsel and completed the cross-examination of six prosecution witnesses.
The court has scheduled the next hearing for June 2, during which the investigation officer and assistant commissioner will be cross-examined. Meanwhile, the acquittal plea of accused PTI worker Usman Ali was dismissed.
Special Public Prosecutor Muhammad Usman Rana represented the state and argued that the accused had been properly identified during a parade and that evidence had been recovered from him. The court upheld the prosecution’s stance and dismissed the acquittal plea.
The judge also directed that the accused must cross-examine on the next hearing date without fail. Two cases have been registered against PTI workers at Ramna Police Station under the Peaceful Assembly and Public Order Act.
This development has raised concerns among party supporters, as PTI leadership and lawyers appear to have distanced themselves from the legal plight of their own workers.