PHC bench warns defiant PTI leaders

Extends bail for those who complied with procedure

PESHAWAR:

A larger bench of the Peshawar High Court (PHC) has ruled that action will be taken against those Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders who sought details of cases registered against them without first approaching the Chief Commissioner Islamabad, as earlier directed by the court.

The bench was hearing writ petitions filed by Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, former chief minister Ali Amin Gandapur, Asad Qaiser, Waqas Akram Sheikh, Shandana Gulzar, Atif Khan, Mashal Azam and other PTI leaders, seeking details of cases registered against them and interim protective bail.

The larger bench, comprising Chief Justice SM Atiq Shah, Justice Syed Arshad Ali and Justice Faheem Wali, observed that only those petitioners who had approached the Islamabad Commissioner for case details would be entitled to relief.

During the hearing, Chief Justice SM Atiq Shah remarked that the federal government was not cooperating and warned that if any illegal act was committed, the law would take its course against those responsible. He directed the authorities to submit details of petitioners who had approached the Islamabad Commissioner.

Justice Syed Arshad Ali noted that the court had previously granted protective bail within the federal jurisdiction and had also sought complete details of cases from all angles. He recalled that in earlier cases, individuals from other provinces had also been granted relief within the federal domain.

Justice Faheem Wali pointed out that the court had granted 14 days to the authorities to provide case details to those who had formally approached the Islamabad Commissioner, but the directions had not yet been complied with.

During proceedings, Additional Attorney General Sanaullah informed the court that the federal prosecutor had sought an adjournment as he was unable to appear. The Chief Justice questioned why the request was not conveyed in time. The Additional Attorney General stated that the registrar had been approached for adjournment, after which the court sought consent from the petitioners' counsel, who raised no objection but requested extension of protective bail.

Counsel for the petitioners, Bashir Wazir Advocate, told the court that repeated requests for case details had been made, but only partial information regarding FIRs was provided instead of complete records.

Expressing dissatisfaction, the Chief Justice stated that no formal adjournment request had been received by the bench and questioned the federal government's seriousness in implementing court orders.

The court directed the federal authorities to submit a report within seven days, detailing which petitioners had approached the Islamabad Commissioner. Protective bail was extended for those petitioners who complied with the court's directions, while the bench ordered that action be taken against those who failed to approach the relevant forum for obtaining case details.

After completion of arguments, the court adjourned the hearing.