PTI lawmakers get protective bail

PESHAWAR: The Peshawar High Court on Wednesday granted protective bail to Member National Assembly Adil Bazai, Sohail Sultan, and Member Provincial Assembly Abdul Ghani Afridi and refrained the law enforcement agencies from arresting them.

A two-member bench comprising Justice Sahibzada Asadullah and Justice Aurangzeb heard the petitions. Advocates Alam Khan Adenzai and Rehmat Kundi represented the petitioners in court.

The petitioners’ lawyers informed the court that their clients are elected members of the assemblies, yet cases had been registered against them.Justice Sahibzada Asadullah inquired about the nature and location of these cases. In response, the petitioners’ counsel said that unknown cases had been filed against them in Islamabad and Rawalpindi.

Justice Asadullah criticised the delay in responses from the federal and provincial governments, saying that one authority submitted a response while the other sought extension for one month.He ordered both the federal and provincial governments to submit their reports within four days, ensuring that these cases could be resolved promptly.

The federal and provincial governments, along with the relevant institutions, were asked to provide the required reports, and the hearing was adjourned until April 15 for a final decision.Also, during the hearing of a separate petition regarding the inclusion of MNA Adil Khan Bazai’s name in the PNIL, the petitioner’s lawyer argued that his client was prevented from travelling for Umrah due to his name being placed on the PNIL.The bench directed the federal government and other respondents to submit their response within seven days and adjourned the hearing until April 15.