PHC extends bail to Gandapur, Bushra

PESHAWAR: The Peshawar High Court (PHC) on Thursday extended the protective bail to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf founder Imran Khan’s wife Bushra Bibi and restrained the authorities from arresting them.

The court also directed the federal government to submit a response regarding the details of the cases registered against them.

The petitions were heard by a two-member bench of the PHC comprising Chief Justice Ishtiaq Ibrahim and Justice Wiqar Ahmad.

The petitioners, CM Gandapur and Bushra Bibi, were represented by Alam Khan Adenzai while Assistant Attorney General Daulat Khan appeared for the federal government.

The lawyer informed the court that a meeting between the government and opposition was scheduled at 11am today due to which CM Gandapur could not appear.

The AAG presented a report on behalf of the federal government, while the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) requested for more time to submit its report.

After arguments, the court extended the protective bail of CM Gandapur for three weeks and directed NAB to submit the report at the next hearing.

The same bench also extended the protective bail of PTI’s founder and former prime minister Imran Khan’s wife Bushra Bibi for one month and directed her to approach the relevant high court for the details of cases filed against her.

The petition was subsequently disposed of.

Meanwhile, the bench while hearing the petition of Qazi Anwar granted protective bail for one month and restrained the relevant authorities from arresting him.

Earlier, he informed the court that if the case against him was not withdrawn, he would return his Tamgha-e-Imtiaz to the court.

“If they consider me a terrorist, I no longer had the right to keep the award,” he pleaded before the bench comprising Chief Justice Ishtiaq Ibrahim and Justice Wiqar Ahmad.

When the hearing began, Chief Justice Ishtiaq Ibrahim said, “Qazi Sahib, an FIR has been lodged against you as well. What does the FIR say?”

He replied that an anti-terrorism case had been filed against him, saying that Qazi Anwar was armed with a stick. He explained, “I am 84 years old and I cannot walk without support. I was awarded the Tamgha-i-Imtiaz, but if the case is not withdrawn, I will return it to this court.

He pleaded that if they called him a terrorist, then he had no right to hold this award. He requested the government to withdraw the case soon.