Mushtaq Ghani gets protective bail till 22nd

PESHAWAR: The Peshawar High Court (PHC) on Friday granted protective bail to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly Speaker Mushtaq Ghani and directed the government agencies not to arrest him until January 22.

Two-member PHC bench comprising Justice Shakeel Ahmad and Justice Waqar Ahmad heard his application seeking protective bail. Ali Azeem Afridi Advocate appeared on behalf of Mushtaq Ghani. Additional advocate general represented the government. The counsel for the petitioner told the court that his client was abroad and wanted to return to the country. He said that the government wanted to arrest Mushtaq Ghani, therefore, the court was requested to grant him protective bail.

The additional advocate general told the bench that Mushtaq Ghani had submitted an application earlier on the same ground and had been granted relief until December 27, but he did not appear before the court.

His lawyer pointed out that the passport of his client had expired and the urgent fees had been deposited to get it renewed, but the government had placed his name in the Provisional National Identification List. He said that the government had issued the passport and it had been dispatched to Mushtaq Ghani. Justice Shakeel Ahmad inquired whether or not the petitioner was speaker of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly. He was told that yes he was. After hearing the arguments, the court granted him protective bail until January 22 and barred the government from arresting him.