BHC orders quashing of all cases registered against Swati in Balochistan

Senator is currently in custody of Balochistan police on a five-day physical remand

QUETTA:

The Balochistan High Court (BHC) on Friday ordered to quash all cases registered against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Senator Azam Swati across the province and also ordered his release.

According to Express News, BHC Chief Justice Hashim Kakar presided over a hearing regarding an application filed by Usman Swati, son of Azam Swati, pertaining to the cases filed against the senator.

Read: Seventh FIR registered against Azam Swati

Earlier today, the Sindh High Court (SHC) issued notices to the Sindh government, prosecutor general and the provincial inspector general on a petition related to the registration of six cases against Azam Swati in the province.

The Balochistan High Court (BHC) had earlier barred the police from registering any more first information reports (FIRs) against Swati over his controversial tweets and speeches.

The senator is currently in the custody of Balochistan police on a five-day physical remand.

Over a week ago, the senator was taken into custody for the second time after a raid at his farmhouse in Chak Shahzad, Islamabad, by the Federal Investigation Agency’s (FIA) Cyber Crime Wing for allegedly tweeting against senior military officials.

Read Imran holds Centre responsible for 'alarming' Swat situation

On December 1, a district and sessions court sent the senator to jail on a 14-day judicial remand in the case after which he was transferred from Islamabad airport to Balochistan where he was ultimately taken to Kuchlak.

The PTI senator was arrested for the first time in October by the Federal Investigation Agency's (FIA) cybercrime unit for allegedly making “controversial claims” against state institutions, including the army chief.

Almost 10 days later, a district and sessions court in Islamabad had granted Swati post-arrest bail against a surety bond worth Rs1 million.