PHC orders release of PTI leader on bail

PESHAWAR: The Peshawar High Court (PHC) on Wednesday granted interim bail to the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader, Yousaf Ayub, and ordered his release.

Justice Shakeel Ahmad and Justice Kamran Hayat Miankhel heard the petitions.

The counsels for the PTI leader submitted to the court that their client had been arrested under 3 MPO (Maintenance of Public Order) which they argued was illegal.

They requested the court to order the release of Yousaf Ayub, also a former provincial minister, and direct that he should not be arrested in any other case. The counsel said it was required as their client’s arrest was feared if he was released in this particular case. Advocate General (AG) Aamir Javed submitted to the court that such a bail could not be granted which forbade the arrest of the person in any other case.

The court asked the AG to get confirmed if there was any other case against the petitioner. If there was no case, then the court would dispose of his second petition as well, it added.

When the court resumed the hearing, the AG produced the first information report copy before the court and said another case had been lodged against Yousaf Ayub at the Bair Police Station in Haripur.

He said the police had acquired the court permission to arrest the petitioner again from the prison, adding the petitioner should appear in the local court to obtain a bail.