PHC grants transit and protective bail to PTI leaders

PESHAWAR: The Peshawar High Court (PHC) on Wednesday granted transit and protective bail to two leaders of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and restrained the authorities from arresting them.

The court also directed the relevant officials to stop investigations against tribal leader Malik Naseer Kukikhel and sought records of cases filed against him.Justice Shakeel Ahmad heard the transit bail plea filed by PTI leader Rauf Hassan.

Advocate Alam Khan, representing the petitioner, argued that Rauf Hassan was a senior PTI leader facing charges in a case registered at the Aabpara Police Station in Islamabad. He said that his client intended to appear before the relevant court and requested transit bail.

The court granted a 14-day transit bail and directed Rauf Hassan to appear before the appropriate court within the given period. In a separate case, a bench comprising Justice SM Atique Shah and Justice Sahibzada Asadullah heard a writ petition filed by tribal leader Malik Naseer Kukikhel.

Advocate Shad Muhammad, representing Malik Naseer, informed the court that his client was being repeatedly implicated in similar cases. He said that currently incarcerated in Dera Ismail Khan Jail, Malik Naseer faced a situation where securing bail in one case led to his nomination in another.

Justice Atique Shah inquired about the details of the cases from the additional advocate general, who confirmed that copies of various cases were available.The court expressed concern over the repetitive nature of the charges and instructed the provincial government to submit a comprehensive report, emphasizing that an individual cannot be implicated repeatedly in identical cases. The hearing was adjourned until February 13. Additionally, the court granted protective bail to PTI leader Naeem Panjutha until February 6, barring his arrest in any case. The court directed him to appear before the relevant court.