Govt, others put on notice against PTI leaders’ repeated arrests

PESHAWAR: The Peshawar High Court (PHC) on Tuesday directed the provincial government, National Accountability Bureau (NAB), Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and Anti-Corruption Establishment to submit their replies on a writ petition filed by former lawmakers of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) against their repeated arrests.

PTI former legislators Fazal Mohammad, Anwar Taj, Arif Yousaf and Fazal Hakeem filed the writ petition against the repeated arrests despite securing bails from the courts. A two-member bench consisting of Justice Ishtiaq Ibrahim and Justice Sahibzada Asadullah heard the petition. Shah Faisal Uthmankhel Advocate appeared for the petitioners. Additional Advocate General Danial Asad Chamkani Advocate represented the provincial government.

During the hearing, Justice Ishtiaq Ibrahim remarked the government had made a mockery of law. He said the government should function as per the norms of a civilized society. The counsel for the petitioners told the court that the police arrested the PTI leaders despite getting bails from the relevant courts. He said the police were also raiding their residences to harass them.

The additional advocate general told the bench that the Darul Qaza in Swat was hearing the case of PTI’s former MPA Fazal Hakeem, therefore, he was not supposed to get relief from the high court. Deputy Prosecutor NAB Azeemdad told the court that they needed some more time to submit their reply in the case. The court ordered the government not to harass the petitioners