PTI leaders get bails in arson cases

Khurram Sher Zaman, Jamal Siddiqui, Firdous Shamim Naqvi, Arsalan Taj and others to appear before trial court

KARACHI:

The Sindh High Court has granted protective bail to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders Khurram Sher Zaman, Jamal Siddiqui, Firdous Shamim Naqvi, Arsalan Taj and Aziz GG in cases of causing riots and terrorism.

The leaders were accused of taking such actions during the party’s Azadi March. The province’s top court ordered them to appear before a trial court within seven days. During the hearing of the bail pleas of the PTI leaders, the suspects’ counsel argued that protesting was the constitutional right of every Pakistani.

The court granted protective bail to the five PTI members of the provincial assembly and ordered them to appear at the in the trial court within seven days, besides submitting surety bonds of Rs30,000 each.

According to police, cases were registered against the PTI MPAs at Soldier Bazar and Ferozeabad police stations.

Zaidi gets bail

Also, an anti-terrorism court (ATC) has granted interim bail to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader and former federal minister Syed Ali Haider Zaidi in two cases.

The PTI leader and former federal minister’s bail application was heard before the Karachi-based ATC. The petitioner’s counsel argued that the Sindh Police wanted to arrest Zaidi and it should be restrained from doing so. “We want to face the charges,” he said.

The court granted Zaidi’s application for interim bail and ordered him to deposit surety bonds of Rs100,000 each in the cases. According to police, two cases have been registered against the accused in Soldier Bazaar and Ferozeabad police stations.

Zaidi also filed a petition in the Sindh High Court for protective bail. In an informal conversation at the Sindh High Court, the former federal minister denied the notion that PTI’s efforts were a failure.

“The message that Imran Khan had to give was loud and clear. Ali Zaidi added that his party’s opponents conducted five long marches, yet the PTI government never stopped them.”

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SHC seeks report

The Sindh High Court (SHC) has sought a report from the federal government, home department, IG Sindh, and others on a petition regarding the arrest and raids to capture PTI Karachi President Bilal Ghaffar

A bench, headed by Justice Muhammad Iqbal Kalhoro, heard the petition. Bilal Ghaffar appeared before the court with his lawyer Abdul Majeed Khoso. Justice Muhammad Iqbal Kalhoro remarked that the issue had been resolved and inquired about the PTI leader’s concerns. However, the petitioner’s counsel maintained that the matter was yet to reach a resolution.

“Police have nominated many PTI assembly members, including Bilal Ghaffar, in cases. A raid has been carried out on Bilal Ghaffar’s house and the reason for his arrest is unclear and that he should not be arrested or harassed by the Sindh Police,” the petition read.

The court asked the Sindh government’s lawyer for a response. The public prosecutor said he has yet to obtain a copy of the court notice and sought more time to submit a written answer. The SHC sought a reply from the parties on June 8.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, May 28^th, 2022.