PHC grants interim bail to Charsadda SHO

Court restrains arrest in lawyer's murder case

PESHAWAR:

The Peshawar High Court (PHC) on Friday granted interim bail to SHO Behramand Shah, who is nominated in the murder case of a young lawyer in Charsadda, and adjourned the hearing until October 3.

The bail plea was heard by a single bench comprising Justice Dr Khurshid Iqbal. Counsel for the accused, Advocate Shabbir Hussain Gigyani, argued that the SHO had been nominated in the murder case and therefore sought interim bail from the court.

However, Peshawar High Court Bar President Aminur Rehman Yousafzai informed the bench that the petitioner had already obtained bail from the Lahore and Islamabad High Courts but had not disclosed this to the court. He also questioned why the accused was avoiding appearance before the local trial court in Charsadda.

In response, the defense counsel stated that he did not hold power of attorney in this specific case, prompting Justice Iqbal to remark that since bail had been granted, the lawyers should now file the necessary documents, and the matter would be scheduled for hearing.

Yousafzai further pointed out that other co-accused in the same case had filed their bail applications before the Charsadda sessions court and suggested that this accused should also be directed there. The defense countered by citing a Supreme Court ruling, arguing that an accused can seek bail from any court if a threat exists at the local level. He assured the bench that the SHO would join the police investigation once interim bail was secured.