Mirza granted protective bail in four cases

Karachi
The Sindh High Court (SHC) granted protective bail to former home minister Dr Zulfiqar Mirza on Monday in four cases pertaining to charges of terrorism, an attempt to murder, an attack on a police station and a forcible shutdown of shops in Badin.
Mirza, an estranged Pakistan People’s Party leader who has fallen out of favour with Asif Ali Zardari, the co-chairman of the party, had approached the high court for obtaining protective bail in four cases registered against him and others by the Badin police.
His counsel Ashraf Samon said Mirza went to the Model Town police to register an FIR against police officials who allegedly tried to arrest his supporter Nadeem Mughal and snatched cash and valuables from him.
However, he said, the police registered four FIRs against his client and his supporters under charges of attacking a police station, an attempt to murder, issuing threats and forcing businessmen to shut their shops in the Badin district.
Petitioner counsel Ashraf Samon submitted that petitioner was implicated in false cases and there was great apprehension for safety and security of the petitioner and his family by the official respondents. He said that government has deputed SSP Rao Anwar as SSP Badin merely with intention to arrest and humiliate the petitioner and his companions in false cases. He prayed court to provide protection to the petitioner so that he could appear before the trial court and defend the charges against him.
SHC’s bench headed by Justice Aqeel Ahmed Abbasi after hearing the counsel granted protective bail to the petitioner in four cases registered against him at Badin police station to appear before the trial court by May 6.
It is pertinent to mention that SHC had also allowed Zulfiqar Mirza to employee private guards for his safety and security in accordance with the law.
Mirza, who remained home minster of the province from 2008 to 2011, contended that on account of his enmity with Muttahida Quami Movement Chief Altaf Hussain and PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari he seriously apprehend threat to his life and other family members.