In a significant development in the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) protest case related to demonstrations held on November 24 and 26, the prosecution has requested a court in Rawalpindi to increase the bail amount for 560 accused individuals currently facing trial.
The prosecution’s application was submitted amid concerns that a reduced bail amount could lead to widespread absences from court proceedings. Prosecutor Zaheer Shah, presenting initial arguments, told the court that 1,049 accused have already been declared absent, and there is a strong likelihood that the remaining 560 currently on bail may also skip proceedings if the bail amount is not revised upward.
Citing the Anti-Terrorism Act, Shah argued that the law allows for a higher surety amount to be imposed to ensure an accused's presence. “The entire purpose of a higher bail amount is to make sure the accused show up in court,” he said, warning that leniency could embolden more absences.
The court has taken the prosecution’s plea seriously, issuing notices to all accused for a hearing scheduled on May 9. Additionally, the superintendents of Adiala, Attock, and Jhelum jails have been directed not to release any bail-bound accused until a decision on the application is made.