IHC grants bail to 23 PTM protesters

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday granted bail to 23 protesters who had been arrested for protesting against arrest of Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM) leader Manzoor Pashteen. Chief Justice Islamabad High Court Justice Athar Minallah heard the case and accepted post-arrest bail of all the accused. During hearing DC Islamabad also appeared in the court. Chief Justice remarked they did not expect this from him and incumbent government. "Have you read FIR and under which law terrorism provisions were imposed," he asked. The court directed DC Islamabad and IGP to file report till next hearing while IGP Islamabad not appeared in the court being on leave. The Chief Justice remarked if they had seen SC verdict in which Supreme Court defined terrorism and where the IGP was as he was called. DIG told to court that he is on leave. The Chief Justice while addressing the DIG remarked that he was representing state and state has responsibility to protect people and not to arrest them. "How can you question someone's patriotism and do you think constitutional courts will shut their eyes on this matter? We will go to the bottom of this case?" The Chief Justice further remarked if the govt did some wrong, it should be accepted as wrong. The court gave one week time to submit reply in the court and ordered that DC and IGP both to see this matter and adjourned the hearing.