PHC extends protective bail of PTI leaders

PESHAWAR: The Peshawar High Court (PHC) on Tuesday extended the protective bail of two Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders, including Minister for Higher education Meena Khan Afridi and MPA Iftikhar Mashwani on Tuesday.

The court has also issued a notice to the federal government, seeking details of the cases registered against them.A two-member bench, comprising Justice Naeem Anwar and Justice Farah Jamshed, heard the petition filed by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Minister for Higher Education Meena Khan Afridi. The petitioner’s lawyer informed the court that cases have been registered against Afridi in Islamabad. Despite a previous court order directing the authorities to provide details of these cases, the federal government has not yet submitted a response. As a result, the court extended the minister’s protective bail and issued a notice to the federal government, demanding an explanation.

Similarly, a separate bench, consisting of Justice Sahibzada Asadullah and Justice Aurangzeb Khan, heard the petition of MPA Iftikhar Mashwani. The petitioner’s lawyer, Rahmat Kundi, argued that his client, as a sitting member of the provincial assembly, is facing multiple known and unknown cases and seeks protective bail. Justice Sahibzada Asadullah remarked that the issue of “omnibus cases” has not yet been resolved. The lawyer responded that the matter is nearing resolution.

Deputy Attorney General Daulat Khan informed the court that reports from the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) have been received, but the report from the Ministry of Interior is still pending. He assured the court that a request has been sent for the remaining details.

Following the proceedings, the court extended the protective bail of Iftikhar Mashwani, barring the law-enforcement agencies from arresting him. A notice was also issued to the federal government, seeking a response on the matter.