Bushra Bibi, the wife of PTI founder Imran Khan, was granted parole by an Islamabad district and sessions court on Thursday in connection with the violent protest that the party conducted last month.
Imran issued a “final call” for nationwide protests on November 24, demanding the restoration of the PTI’s electoral mandate, the release of detained party members, and the reversal of the 26th Amendment, which he claimed had strengthened a “dictatorial regime.”
The Red Zone was evacuated by the party’s senior leadership and supporters in the early hours of November 27, following a day of pitched confrontations between security forces and PTI demonstrators throughout the federal capital.
According to officials and hospital sources, at least six lives were lost during the three-day protests, including three Rangers officials and a police officer who were struck by a racing vehicle. The government and the opposition party continue to engage in a significant amount of debate regarding the allegations and counterclaims regarding the fatalities that were purportedly caused by law enforcement action against the PTI marchers.
In a case concerning the protests, the Islamabad Anti-Terrorism Court issued non-bailable arrest warrants for Imran, Bushra, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, and 93 others on December 2.
A journalist affiliated with a foreign media organisation filed a lawsuit against Gandapur, Bushra, and other party leaders on December 13.
A week later, the PTI leadership, which included Imran, Bushra Bibi, and Gandapur, were arrested on a murder charge after an official of the Rangers succumbed to an injury he sustained during the violent protest organised by the party last month.
The interim parole applications submitted by Bushra in the protest cases of November 26 were considered by district and sessions court judge Shabbir Bhatti on Thursday.
He granted her interim parole until January 13 in exchange for Rs50,000 in bonds.
Bushra and her solicitors were present in the courtroom. Three cases were registered at the Ramna police station, while one case was registered against her at the Tarnol police station.
