ISLAMABAD: A special bench of anti-terrorism court has granted 18 Pakistan Muslim League-N leaders including former National Assembly speaker Ayaz Sadiq in a case pertaining to organization of rally to welcome former prime minister Nawaz Sharif without getting permission.

On Jul 14, 2018, the PML-N had carried out a rally without a permit to receive Nawaz Sharif on his return to the country from Abu Dhabi.

After he arrived, he along his daughter Maryam Nawaz were arrested from the Lahore airport and put behind the bars in Kot Lakhpat jail. The court had handed them punishment of imprisonment. They were later freed after their imprisonment was suspended.

Talking to media, Ayaz Sadiq said that the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) would hold a long march against the government after opposition members of the provincial and national assemblies would submit their resignations.