PHC grants protective bail to PTI leaders

PESHAWAR: The Peshawar High Court (PHC) on Wednesday granted protective bail to several Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders and Members National Assembly (MNAs).

They included Asad Qaiser, Shahram Tarakai, Shahryar Afridi, Zartaj Gul, Aftab Alam, Khadija Shah, Nadia Khattak, Shibli Faraz, Rauf Hassan, Dawar Kundi, Emaan Tahir, Faisal Tarakai and Raja Basharat.

A two-member bench comprising Chief Justice Ishtiaq Ibrahim and Justice Wiqar Ahmad issued a notice to the federal government to provide details of all cases registered against the petitioners.

The court restrained the authorities from arresting the petitioners.

During the hearing, Alam Khan Adenzai, appearing for the petitioners, informed the court that his clients were affiliated with PTI and faced multiple cases registered against them after a protest at Islamabad’s D-Chowk.

He stated that his clients had obtained interim bail for the known cases, they remained unaware of several other cases against them. The counsel further argued that the petitioners were willing to appear before the relevant courts but feared being arrested.

Additional Attorney General Sanaullah, representing the federal government, acknowledged the existence of cases against the petitioners in other provinces. He noted that the court had previously sought clarification on the maintainability of such petitions.

The court directed the federal government to provide details of all cases registered against the petitioners within 10 days and granted protective bail until December 24.