PHC seeks details of cases against Asad Qaiser by Dec 7

PESHAWAR: The Peshawar High Court (PHC) has set a timeline for the caretaker KP government to submit the details of the cases registered against Pakistan Tehreek Insaf leader Asad Qaiser.

A two-member PHC bench consisting of Justice Ishtiaq Ibraheem and Justice Sahibzada Asadullah ordered the provincial government to submit the details of the cases instituted against the senior PTI leader and former speaker of the National Assembly by December 7.

Asad Qaiser filed a petition through Advicate Syed Sikandar Hayat Shah to seek the details of the cases he was facing as he was being arrested repeatedly in various cases.

The writ made the provincial government, KP police chief, heads of National Accountability, Federal Investigation Agency and the Anti-Corruption Department as parties to the case.

The counsel for the petitioner said his client had served as speaker of KP Assembly and National Assembly in the past.

He contended that Asad Qaiser was held when a crackdown was launched against the PTI leaders and workers after the party government was sent packing at the federal level, last year.

Syed Sikandar Hayat Shah said his client was arrested in another case when a court accepted his bail in one. He alleged that the cases against Asad Qaiser were of political nature as these had been instituted on the basis of his affiliation with the PTI.

The counsel said the petitioner had secured bail in two cases filed by the Anti-Corruption Department, adding a court had also provided him relief in another case related to terrorism.

He said his client had been re-arrested by the Anti-Corruption Department on the charges of his involvement in the anomalies allegedly committed in the purchase of medical equipment for the Gajju Khan Medical College in Swabi.

Additional Advocate General Daniyal Asad Chamkani submitted before the court that the details of the cases had already been provided to the petitioner and that he had turned to the court again for the purpose.

The counsel for the petitioner, however, clarified that the details were provided in the cases in which his client had already won the relief. He said Asad Qaiser had been arrested after registering fresh cases against him whose details were needed.