In Islamabad, the Supreme Court has granted bail to five individuals involved in the incident on May 9.
During the hearing, the Supreme Court approved the bail applications of the accused after they paid Rs. 50,000 each. Justice Jamal Khan Mandukhel commented on the application of terrorism charges, stating that such provisions should only be applied in clear cases of terrorism, citing examples like the tragic events at the Peshawar Army Public School and the suicide bombing targeting lawyers in Quetta. He emphasized the need to keep political battles out of the courtroom, suggesting that such disputes should be resolved through political means rather than legal ones. Additionally, he questioned the validity of implicating individuals in a political rally as a criminal offense.
The lawyer representing the accused emphasized that his clients had no affiliation with any political party. Justice Mandukhel expressed concerns about the criminalization of political association, suggesting that banning political parties and student unions had led to unnecessary legal conflicts. He compared the government’s role to that of parents, urging a more measured approach to justice instead of mass incarceration.
The investigating officer mentioned a statement from a Head Constable alleging that the conspiracy behind the May 9 incident originated from Zaman Park Lahore. Justice Mandukhel cautioned against blindly accepting such statements, highlighting the importance of a fair and reliable judicial process.
Justice Hasan Azhar Rizvi noted that the alleged conspirators were apprehended at checkpoints, indicating progress in law enforcement efforts. The Supreme Court emphasized that trial courts should not be influenced by observations made during hearings and directed the release of the accused on bail if they were not implicated in any other crimes.
The suspects were accused of vandalism at the Hamza Camp Rawalpindi military base between May 9th and 10th. An FIR was filed against them under the names Owais, Nasrullah, Saifullah, Kamran, and Waqas at the New Town Rawalpindi police station.