An anti-terrorism court (ATC) Monday granted police the physical remand of PTI leaders and workers in connection with the May 9 riots, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

 Dr Yasmin Rashid, Mian Mehmoodur Rasheed and Ejaz Chaudhry are among the PTI persons who have been sent on a three-day physical remand.

Deputy Prosecutor Abdul Jabbar Dogar requested the physical remand of the accused in the hearing conducted by ATC judge Ejaz Ahmad Buttar.

The investigating officer Inspector Shaukat stated that the provisions for sedition, waging war and rioting have been added to the cases against the accused as they are all involved in causing a rebellion against the state. He said that physical remand is needed for investigation with the accused over the new provisions added.

The lawyers defending the accused opposed the physical remand and said that the women are already imprisoned under judicial remand and the investigations can be conducted in jail. There is no need for another physical remand and the police also do not have any new evidence against the accused for a physical remand.

ATC Judge approved a three-day physical remand for PTI workers including Khadija Shah, Sanam Javaid, Aliya Hamza, Tayyaba Ambreen and 68 others and handed them over to the police adding provisions of treason and waging war to the cases filed against them over arson at Jinnah House.

The investigating officer said that they are investigating the latest provisions and therefore, the accused have to be kept under physical remand.

The lawyer, opposing the physical remand said that his clients are under judicial remand and the investigation can take place in the jail.

The court adjourned PTI’s social media activist Ayesha Ali Bhutta’s hearing over the application for bail till August 31. She was arrested over allegations of setting police vehicles on fire near Afshan Chowk and had filed a petition for bail after arrest.

ATC judge conducting the hearing, Ejaz Ahmad Buttar, demanded arguments from the lawyers on the next hearing.

The investigating officer said that the accused was involved in case 103/23 in the Sarwar Road police station and she was identified in the identification parade.

Bhutta’s lawyers, Rana Mudassar Umar and Yousaf Wain said that their client was first implicated in the Jinnah House attack case and she has been implicated in this new case even though her bail had been approved in the former case.