A court decision in the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf long march case reportedly provides relief to arrested party workers, although the precise order, number of beneficiaries and conditions require confirmation from the original report.

ISLAMABAD: An Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Islamabad has ordered the discharge of all Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) workers arrested in connection with cases linked to the party’s planned long march, according to a report published by Express News on October 17, 2026.

ATC Judge Abu Al-Hasanat Muhammad Zulqarnain heard the case and approved the defence lawyers’ request to discharge the arrested workers from the proceedings. The workers had been sent to judicial custody for identification parades in cases registered at Shalimar and Secretariat police stations.

Court Grants Relief After Repeated Delays

During the hearing, the investigating officer requested an adjournment for the identification parade.

Defence lawyer Sardar Muhammad Masroof told the court that the accused had spent more than 40 days in custody and alleged that police had repeatedly sought adjournments without producing the workers before the court.

Lawyers Murtaza Turi and Zahid Bashir Dar also argued that the workers should be discharged, maintaining that the arrests were unjustified. These statements represent the defence’s position in the proceedings.

Workers Discharged From Cases

After hearing the defence’s arguments, the court accepted the request and ordered the discharge of all the PTI workers involved in the cases, Express News reported.

The proceedings concerned cases registered at Shalimar and Secretariat police stations, in which the arrested workers had been placed in judicial custody for identification procedures.

The ruling provides legal relief to the workers in these proceedings. However, the precise scope of the order and whether any separate cases or detention orders remain applicable should be confirmed through the written judicial order and relevant police records.

Background to PTI Long March Cases

The case comes amid continuing legal and political disputes surrounding PTI’s protest activities and proposed march towards Islamabad.

In September 2026, the Islamabad High Court ruled that political parties and public authorities could not unlawfully obstruct public roads or infringe citizens’ fundamental rights during political demonstrations. The court also issued directions concerning the use of government resources in connection with protests.

The latest ATC decision concerns the arrested workers in the specific Shalimar and Secretariat police cases. It should not be interpreted as a ruling on every case associated with PTI’s long march or protest activities.

Further details about the written order and any subsequent legal proceedings may clarify the full implications of the decision.

Source: Express News. The court’s written order should be consulted to establish the precise legal effect of the discharge and whether any separate proceedings remain pending.