Sangjani Rally Case Brings Fresh Court Action Against PTI Leaders
Islamabad court initiates proclamation proceedings against Sheikh Waqas Akram and Zain Qureshi, directs authorities to place Zartaj Gul and Omar Ayub on ECL.
ISLAMABAD: An Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Islamabad has issued fresh directions concerning several Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders in a case linked to the party’s September 2024 Sangjani public gathering.
During the proceedings, the court initiated proclamation proceedings against PTI leaders Sheikh Waqas Akram and Zain Qureshi, while directing that the names of Zartaj Gul and Omar Ayub be placed on the Exit Control List (ECL), according to details from Thursday’s proceedings.
The court also approved applications seeking exemption from personal appearance for Shoaib Shaheen, Ali Bukhari and Ali Shah.
Case Linked to September 2024 Sangjani Gathering
The case stems from PTI’s September 8, 2024 gathering at Sangjani in Islamabad. Police subsequently registered cases involving a number of party leaders over alleged incidents connected with the gathering. Contemporary reporting confirms that Sheikh Waqas Akram and Zain Qureshi were among PTI lawmakers arrested in the aftermath, while Omar Ayub and Zartaj Gul were also named in proceedings related to the Sangjani gathering.
The case has passed through several stages since 2024. In September 2024, the Islamabad High Court set aside an ATC order granting eight-day physical remand of PTI lawmakers and ordered that they remain in judicial custody.
In October 2025, an Islamabad ATC also issued bailable arrest warrants for Omar Ayub, Sheikh Waqas Akram and Zartaj Gul in proceedings connected with the Sangjani case.
The latest directions concerning proclamation proceedings and the ECL are procedural court measures; they do not constitute a determination of guilt.
