IHC grants bail to civil judge, his wife

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday granted protective bail to Bahawalpur Civil Judge Malik Farooq and his wife in a case filed by Bahawalpur additional sessions judge.

Chief Justice Athar Minallah issued orders to grant security bail till July 18 in exchange for bonds worth Rs10,000.

The court has directed Judge Farooq to appear before the trial court by July 18.

A petition was filed by the civil judge and his wife last night, on which Asad Khan, in-charge of the branch, and other staff reached the high court. The IHC was opened and court orders were issued.

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In his petition filed with the IHC, the civil judge alleged that the sessions judge had asked him to decide various cases as per his wishes “but I ruled on merit”.

“The sessions judge threatened to transfer me and register a case. Now, the police are conducting raids at my home.

“I have a complete record of the sessions judge's WhatsApp messages and calls.

“Kindly grant me protective bail as raids are being conducted to arrest me.”