Peshawar High Court orders release of PTM lawmakers

PESHAWAR: The Peshawar High Court on Wednesday ordered the release of two Pashtun Tahaffuz Movement (PTM) lawmakers.

Both Mohsin Dawar and Ali Wazir were arrested in May for allegedly inciting violent clashes with security forces.

"Today, Justice Nasir Mehfooz from Peshawar High Court accepted the bail application and ordered the release of Mohsin Dawar and Ali Wazir," Tariq Afghan, one of the defence lawyers, said.

Afghan said both MPs were set to be released after completing legal formalities and paying bail.

Sangeen Khan, another defence lawyer familiar with the case, said the court accepted their bail application after finding contradictory reports in the investigation.

The two lawmakers have been held in custody for months over their alleged involvement in a violent clash at a rally near the Afghan border in the tribal region that killed 14 people.

Both MPs had been charged with murder, attempted murder, attacking law enforcement personnel, disturbing law and order, and terrorism, according to the lawyers and a court official.