Ex-minister Afzal Sahi gets protective bail in corruption case

Former PTI minister faces graft charges in FIR lodged by the anti-corruption police

LAHORE:

The Lahore High Court’s Justice Asjad Javaid Ghural on Wednesday granted ad-interim protective bail to former Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) provincial minister Ali Afzal Sahi until May 29.

Sahi is facing charges in an FIR lodged by the anti-corruption police, and the bail granted will enable him to appear in the relevant court.

However, Justice Ghural obtained assurance from the Additional Advocate General of Punjab, Ghulam Sarwar Nihung, and the Deputy Director Legal of the Anti-Corruption Department, Muhammad Riaz Chaudhry, that no existing FIR required the petitioner’s arrest.

Both the law officer and the anti-corruption officer assured the court that there was no such FIR necessitating Sahi’s arrest.

In his petition, Sahi had sought details of concealed or disclosed FIRs lodged against him in the province. He had further requested the court to restrain the police from harassing him and executing his arrest until the disposal of this petition.

Also read LHC seeks report onplea seeking recovery of former provincial minister Ali Afzal Sahi

During the first round of proceedings, Sahi’s counsel argued that FIRs were being hidden and the arrests of PTI lawmakers were being carried out, leading to strong suspicions of police-targeted arrests. He appealed to the court to direct the relevant authorities to provide details of any FIRs registered against the petitioner and to grant protective bail, enabling them to appear before the appropriate courts.

Justice Ghural then directed the law officer to produce all concealed or disclosed records of the FIRs lodged against the petitioner, and subsequently adjourned proceedings for a short period.

During the second round of proceedings, Additional Advocate General Ghulam Sarwar Nihung disclosed to the court that a single FIR had been registered against Sahi under section 7ATA, for which he had already obtained protective bail.

While the arguments were underway, Deputy Director Legal Anti-Corruption Muhammad Riaz Chaudhry presented an additional FIR lodged against Sahi under anti-corruption charges.

Expressing his displeasure over the political scenario, Justice Ghural emphasised the need for balance, to which Ghulam Sarwar Nihung responded that no institution remains untouched by favouritism.

"There was an institution to which the people showed respect, but now it is being reduced to a mockery," Justice Ghural remarked.