PHC grants protective bail to Shibli Faraz, Zartaj Gul and others

PESHAWAR: The Peshawar High Court (PHC) on Wednesday granted protective bail to several Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders, including opposition leader in Senate Shibli Faraz, MNA Zartaj Gul, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Minister Meena Khan, and former Provincial Assembly Member Arbab Jahandad Khan.

The court barred authorities from arresting them and directed the petitioners to approach relevant trial courts by August 11.

A two-member bench comprising Justice Syed Arshad Ali and Justice Farah Jamshed issued the orders while hearing multiple petitions for protective bail.

The hearing on Zartaj Gul’s petition began with her counsel, Syed Sikandar Shah, informing the court that the Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Faisalabad had sentenced her to 10 years in prison on July 31 in three separate FIRs. Justice Arshad Ali questioned the sentence and the legality of the judgement from a single ATC. He expressed concern over the petitioner’s legal strategy, saying, “It seems your legal team is weak.”

Justice Farah Jamshed questioned the jurisdiction, asking why Zartaj Gul, who hailed from Dera Ghazi Khan, was approaching the PHC. The petitioner’s counsel responded that she only sought protective bail to ensure access to justice and court proceedings.

The bench subsequently granted protective bail to Zartaj Gul and directed her to appear before the appropriate court by August 11.

In a separate hearing, the court granted similar relief to Shibli Faraz, who had also received a 10-year sentence from the Faisalabad ATC. His counsel told the court that Faraz intended to surrender before the relevant court but feared immediate arrest.

The bench also heard petitions related to cases filed against KP Minister Meena Khan and former MPA Arbab Jahandad Khan. Later, the court approved protective bail for both Meena Khan and Arbab Jahandad.

Speaking to reporters outside the court, Zartaj Gul said PTI leaders and supporters were being unjustly punished. She alleged that PTI members are being sentenced in fake cases.