PTI chief’s lawyer granted pre-arrest bail in PML-N senator assault case

ISLAMABAD: Additional Sessions Judge Tahir Abbas on Monday granted pre-arrest bail to Sher Afzal Khan Marwat, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan’s lawyer, in an assault case lodged by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Senator Afnan Ullah Khan.

Earlier today, the lawyer filed an application in the sessions court for pre-arrest bail after a case was registered against him for allegedly assaulting the Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) senator during a live TV show.

The sessions judge approved Marwat’s plea and granted him bail till October 4 against surety bond of Rs5,000.

Senator Afnan had lodged a first information report (FIR) against Marwat at Islamabad's Aabpara Police Station on Saturday.

The senator alleged in the FIR that Marwat threatened to kill him, adding that videos and other evidence of the incident were available.

“During the heated debate, Mr Sher Afzal Marwat suddenly attacked me and tried to hit me and also threatened that I will face consequences and he will not spare me and gave life threats,” he stated in the FIR.

He further stated that the PTI leader also posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, about attacking him.

Afnan then sought legal action against Marwat.

The set of a private television channel looked like a wrestling ring in a video that surfaced on social media last week, showing the two political leaders scuffling violently after a heated argument.

The incident was confirmed by both parties and has also been shared by the senator on X.

The argument between the two ended up in the use of abusive language when all of a sudden Marwat attacked the senator.

At first, both pushed each other, eventually resorted to slaps and started punching each other.

It was only due to the TV show crew’s intervention that both the politicians were separated.

Taking to X, Dr Afnan said that Marwat attacked him, adding that he does not believe in violence but is a “soldier of Nawaz Sharif”.

“The beating that I gave to Marwat is an important lesson for all PTI and especially Imran Khan. They will not be able to show their face to anyone and will be forced to wear big dark sunglasses,” the senator said.

While Marwat, in a post, claimed that the TV show host was "spreading misinformation" about the "unpleasant incident".

"He is spreading rumours that my opponent was a superman. He is not telling the reality which is that Afnan Ullah ran away from the studio and took shelter in a nearby room, which I came to know after watching his programme today," Marwat said.

He also added that he plans to "initiate a defamation case and criminal complaint" the lawyer wrote.