ATC grants interim bail to Fayyazul Chohan

RAWALPINDI:

A special anti-terrorism court (ATC) on Thursday granted interim bail to former provincial minister for prisons, Fayyazul Hasan Chohan, in a terrorism case filed against him in Sadiqabad police station for alleged vandalism and protest against the arrest of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman and former premier Imran Khan.

ATC Judge Hamid Hussain directed the former minister to submit surety bonds worth Rs50,000. During Thursday’s hearing, Chohan was also present in the courtroom.

The court also restrained the police from harassing, arresting the PTI leader and raiding his house. The court issued a notice to the SHO concerned, seeking his response and a complete record of the case on May 18.

On the other hand, former provincial minister Raja Basharat, who was nominated in the case of breaking down gate number 1 of the General Headquarters of the Pakistan Army and vandalizing it, will move court for securing interim bail on Friday (today). Directions have been issued for the preparation of his bail application.

Meanwhile, ATC Judge Hamid Hussain rejected the requests of the investigation teams of all the police stations, seeking physical remand of the arrested PTI activists in cases registered at various police stations of the four districts of the Rawalpindi Division and sent all PTI workers to Adiala Jail on judicial remand with the directions to produce them on May 25.

As many as 101 arrested PTI workers were presented by City, Waris Khan, RA Bazar, Gunjmandi, Cantt, Kallar Syedan, Hazro Attock, Civil Lines Sadiqabad and New Town police stations.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 12^th, 2023.