LHC grants bail to tlp’s Khadim Rizvi, Afzal Qadri

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Tuesday granted bail to Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) chief Khadim Hussain Rizvi in a criminal case registered against him over a violent protest.

A division bench headed by Justice Muhammad Qasim Khan also granted bail to former TLP patron-in-chief Pir Afzal Qadri in the case till July 15. The bench directed both the leaders to submit surety bonds of Rs 500,000 each for availing the bail.

The bench announced the verdict which was reserved after hearing final arguments of the parties on post-arrest bail petitions filed by the TLP leaders on May 8. The prosecution opposed the bail petitions, saying the violent protests led by the TLP leaders caused Rs 300 million losses to the public and private properties in addition to creating a great sense of fear among the citizens.

It was clear from video record of their speeches that they tried to incite people against the state institutions, including the army and judiciary, it added.

The defence counsel submitted an apology on behalf of Qadri and urged the bench to grant bail to his client. The court was also requested to grant bail to Rizvi as he was no longer required for investigations.

Both the TLP leaders were taken into “protective custody” during a crackdown in November last year after the TLP announced it would observe “Martyrs day” on November 25, 2018. The arrests followed weeks after the TLP led three-day protests across the country against the acquittal of a Christian woman, Asia Bibi, by the Supreme Court in a blasphemy case.

It is pertinent to mention here that Qadri had resigned from the movement earlier this month due to health issues.