SC orders release of Gwadar Tehreek's Maulana Hidayat on bail

The Supreme Court approved the bail of Maulana Hidayat Ur Rehman, the head of the Gwadar Rights Movement (GRM), and ordered his release on Thursday.

A three-member bench headed by Justice Sardar Tariq Masood presided over the hearing and granted bail against two surety bonds of Rs0.3 million.

During the proceedings, Rehman’s lawyer Kamran Murtaza informed the court that the rights movement leader was arrested from court premises, adding that his client has been incarcerated since December 2022.

“Why didn't you challenge the arrest from the court premises," inquired Justice Masood. 

To this, the lawyer replied that at the time of Rehman's arrest, such actions had not been declared illegal by the apex court, adding that the development happened following the arrest of PTI chief Imran Khan.

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The government’s lawyer argued that Rehman should not be granted bail until the main accused, Majid Johar, is sent on judicial remand.

Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar then questioned if "Rehman is accused of aiding and abetting the murder of a police officer?”

The counsel replied that the facts will be determined during the trial, adding that his client's movement was related to the provision of water for the people of Gwadar. 

Rehman was arrested from Gwadar on January 13 on charges of murder. Later in January, he was handed over to the crime branch police on a three-day physical remand by the anti-terrorism court.

The GRM has been protesting against illegal fishing, trawling, and unnecessary check posts. In 2022, violent clashes had broken out between the members of GRM and the police. Mobile services were also suspended for ten days which paralyzed life in Gwadar.