Court restrains govt from arresting Bushra Bibi

PESHAWAR: The Peshawar High Court (PHC) on Tuesday restrained the government from arresting Bushra Bibi until December 23 and directed the federal government to provided details of cases registered against her.

A two-member bench comprising Justice SM Attique Shah and Justice Sahibzada Asadullah heard the petition. Advocate Alam Khan Adinzai represented the petitioner, while Deputy Attorney General Sanaullah appeared for the federal government.

Advocate Alam Adinzai told the court that more cases had been registered against his client in Punjab following a protest at D-Chowk. However, he said the petitioner did not know about these cases. The DAG assured the court that a report on all registered FIRs would be submitted within two weeks.

Justice Sahibzada Asadullah asked whether the petitioner had appeared before courts where similar bail was granted in earlier cases. The petitioner’s lawyer responded that more FIRs were filed after the November 24 protest, including cases against Members of National and Provincial Assemblies. The petitioner’s counsel pleaded that a separate petition had been filed seeking details of the cases against Bushra Bibi, the wife of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan, to which the government was instructed to provide a report. The court questioned the maintainability of the case and asked the petitioner’s lawyer to assist the court.

A separate bench headed by Justice Wiqar Ahmad heard the petition filed by Bushra Bibi for transit bail in 27 cases. Her counsel prayed to extend time for her to appear before the relevant courts. He also pleaded that over 50 cases had been registered against her. Justice Wiqar Ahmad noted that extended time could not be granted due to the upcoming winter holidays. The court then granted transit bail to Bushra Bibi until December 23.