Bushra granted bail in four cases

ISLAMABAD: Additional District and Sessions Judge Muhammad Shabbir Bhatti on Tuesday granted interim bail to Bushra Bibi in four cases registered in connection with the PTI’s November 26 protest, preventing the police from arresting her.

The pre-arrest bail applications were filed in three cases registered by the Ramna Police Station and one by the Tarnol Police Station. The court granted Bushra interim bail in exchange for bonds worth Rs50,000 each in all the four cases, issued notices to the police and adjourned the hearing till January 13. Before the hearing, Bushra’s lawyer Khalid Yousuf said bail applications had to be filed in cases registered under terrorism provisions as well. It is requested that the court also hear them. But the court staff said it did not have the authority to hear cases registered under terrorism provisions. “You should approach an anti-terrorism court,” he was told. The lawyer said he had gone there, but due to judicial vacation, the judge was not present. Bushra also went to the ATC before the district courts, where she was to file pre-arrest bail applications in 13 cases but returned due to the unavailability of judge of the higher court. Notably, Bushra Bibi has obtained a protective bail from the Peshawar High Court.