PHC grants protective bail to Omar Ayub

PESHAWAR: The Peshawar High Court (PHC) on Thursday granted protective bail for one month to the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader and opposition leader in the National Assembly, Omar Ayub Khan.

The two-member bench comprising Chief Justice Ishtiaq Ibrahim and Justice Wiqar Ahmad directed him to appear in the Islamabad High Courts and other courts in connection with the cases instituted against him.

Alam Khan Adinzai Advocate represented Omar Ayub while Additional Advocate General Inam Yousafzai appeared for the government.

The counsel for the PTI leader told the court his client was facing several cases but alleged that he was harassed when he visited Punjab to appear in the courts.

He said Omar Ayub had obtained a protective bail till November 8 but it was feared that he might be arrested afterwards.

The PHC chief justice said the court was not authorized to grant the bail beyond 14 days.

But Omar Ayub submitted that he was an opposition leader and a member of the Judicial Commission. He said he wanted to appear in the courts and hence should be granted a one-month protective bail.

The court entertained the PTI leader’s request and instructed him to turn to the courts for the details of the cases registered against him.