12 PTI workers were jailed in the protest case on November 26.

Two Islamabad courts have condemned twelve Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) employees to six months in prison for taking part in the November 26 demonstration without formal authorisation.

In three distinct cases brought under the Peaceful Assembly and Public Order (PAPO) Act, the District and Sessions Courts of Islamabad rendered their decisions. At Tarnol Police Station, one case was filed, and at Ramna Police Station, two.

The decisions in the two Ramna cases were rendered by Judicial Magistrate Ahmed Shehzad Gondal, and the Tarnol case was decided by Judicial Magistrate Mureed Abbas.

Twelve of the 13 defendants were found guilty and given sentences, while one was found not guilty by the court.

The court’s ruling states that the protest was conducted without prior authorisation, which was obviously illegal. The PAPO Act, which governs public assemblies and protests, was the legal basis for the charges.

See also: PTI’s appeal against the state counsel’s appointment in the protest case on November 26th is accepted

Muhammad Usman Rana, the Special Public Prosecutor, contended at the court that the demonstration on November 26 did not qualify as a peaceful assembly. He insisted that the demonstration did not comply with international law or constitutional protections.

He went on to say that the state maintained public order by taking legal and reasonable measures.

The prosecutor said that the right to peaceful protest is not unqualified and that there must be repercussions for breaking the law. When the purpose of such meetings is to make unconstitutional demands, they are not protected by the Constitution, the ICCPR, or the ECHR.

He added that the November 26 demonstration sought to use unlawful tactics to compel the government to act.