PTI lawyers to file for Dasti’s bail

Legal team meets the MNA in district jail Sargodha for 40 minutes

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI) has decided to fight the case of the imprisoned national assembly member Jamshed Ahmed Dasti.

On Monday, a five-member team of lawyers – led by Babar Awan – will file a bail application on behalf of Dasti, said a statement issued by the PTI’s central media wing.

Dasti, the Awami Raj Party chief, on Saturday signed a power of attorney in this regard after PTI lawyers met him in the district jail Sargodha for almost 40 minutes, according to the statement.

Last week, Dasti was arrested just before he was scheduled to be released from Multan Central Jail after an anti-terrorism court approved his bail in different cases.



On June 29, several TV channels highlighted a video clip of MNA Dasti in which he accused police of manhandling him during his detention, besides saying that he was kept without food for at least six days.

In the video, the teary-faced MNA pleaded for help through the panes of a prison vehicle. An agitated Dasti claimed that he was severely beaten up by the police and rats and scorpions were released into his cell as a means of torture.

Chief Justice Lahore High Court Syed Mansoor Ali Shah had also taken notice of the torture allegation and directed the judge of the anti-terrorism court and the sessions judge Sargodha to visit the jail and submit a report.



However, the medico-legal report ‘found’ no signs of torture.

Several opposition leaders, including PTI chief Imran Khan, had condemned the alleged torture on Dasti.