ATC Grants Bail to Former Senator Mushtaq Ahmad and 95 Co‑accused in AJK Protest Case

On Monday, an anti‑terrorism court (ATC) in Islamabad approved bail for all 96 people arrested in connection with a protest that turned volatile in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK). Among them was former senator Mushtaq Ahmad, whose name has dominated headlines since the incident.

The case dates back to July 31, when the Shalimar Police Station filed a first‑information report (FIR) invoking terrorism‑related provisions. According to the FIR, Ahmad allegedly marshalled a crowd of four‑to‑five hundred people in the F‑10 sector, used loudspeakers to deliver what prosecutors called “incendiary” speeches, and encouraged shop owners to shut down their businesses.

Authorities say the demonstrators then marched towards Sambal Road, aiming to reach Main Jinnah Avenue and block traffic. Police radio‑announced that the gathering lacked a no‑objection certificate (NOC), urging the protesters to disperse. Instead, the crowd allegedly blocked a main road near Shalimar Plaza around 7:10 pm, vandalised a media DSNG vehicle, damaged private cars, and even threw stones at police officers, with some participants reportedly snatching anti‑riot helmets.

When the bail applications were heard, ATC Judge Abual Hasnat Muhammad Zulqarnain set a surety bond of Rs 5,000 per accused. Advocate Imran Shafiq represented the former senator and fellow detainee Razi Tahir, while public prosecutor Raja Naveed Hussain Kayani spoke for the state. Other lawyers, including Sardar Bushik, Zahid Bashir Dar and Amina Ali, appeared for the remaining suspects.

Mushtaq Ahmad had been handed over to police for a three‑day physical remand on August 3. The prosecution had initially asked for a 30‑day remand, citing the need to recover a vehicle and alleged weapons tied to the protest. With bail now secured, the accused are set to be released, though the investigation continues.

Legal experts note that granting bail in terrorism‑linked cases is not routine, suggesting the court weighed the evidence against the right to liberty. The decision, they say, could ease tensions in a region already fraught with political unrest.