PHC grants protective bail to several PTI leaders

PESHAWAR: The Peshawar High Court (PHC) on Tuesday approved the protective bail petitions of several Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders including Senator Shibli Faraz, senior lawyer Qazi Anwar, former prime minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir Sardar Abdul Qayyum, Members National Assembly Anwar Taj, Saleem Rehman, and Sajid Khan.

Other PTI leaders Ahmed Shah, Umar Tanveer, Malik Taimur Masood, Malik Fahad Masood, Malik Saad Ali, and Raja Azhar Mehmood were also granted bails.A two-member bench comprising Justice Sahibzada Asadullah and Justice Wiqar Ahmad directed them to appear before the relevant courts within 10 days.

Representing Senator Shibli Faraz, Advocate Alam Khan informed the court that his client sought details of cases and protective bail to appear before the courts without fear of arrest.The court granted Shibli Faraz bail until January 16 and issued notices to the federal government for a detailed report on cases filed against him.

Similarly, the bench approved the protective bail of Qazi Anwar, President of the Insaf Lawyers Forum, and directed the federal government and other institutions to provide details of cases registered against him.

The court also granted protective bail to MNAs Anwar Taj, Saleem Rehman, Sajid Khan and PTI leader Ahmed Shah.Their lawyers informed the bench that cases were registered against them after the November 24 protests, creating concerns about possible arrests before court appearances.

The court also approved protective bail for former AJK Prime Minister Sardar Abdul Qayyum, Umar Tanveer, Malik Taimur Masood, Malik Fahad Masood, Malik Saad Ali, and Raja Azhar Mehmood.

The bench directed all petitioners to appear in relevant courts within the stipulated timeframe.In addition to granting bail, the court instructed the federal government and relevant institutions to submit details of the cases registered against the petitioners.

The PHC approved the protective bail petition of Punjab Assembly MPA and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Mubeen Arif Jatt and directed him to appear before the relevant courts.A two-member bench comprising Justice Sahibzada Asadullah and Justice Wiqar Ahmad heard the petition.

The petitioner’s counsel, Advocate Alam Khan, informed the court that Mubeen Arif Jatt had arrived from Dubai and was present in court. He stated that his client had secured transit bail in two cases.The court granted the MPA a two-week protective bail and instructed him to approach the relevant courts for details of the cases filed against him.