04 September 2004	Saturday	18 Rajab 1425

PESHAWAR, Sept 3: The Peshawar High Court on Friday adjourned hearing in the pre-arrest bail petition of former PML-N MNA Jawed Ibraheem Paracha for a week.

The single-judge bench of Justice Tariq Pervez, fixed Sept 10 for next hearing. At the outset of the proceedings, Mr Paracha informed the bench that his counsel did not turn up and his case might be adjourned.

The former MNA was accused by former ministers Faisal Saleh Hayat and Sheikh Rashid Ahmad of having links with Al Qaeda militants. Mr Paracha denies these allegations, saying that neither he has any links with the militants nor is he aware of their activities.

The applicant has annexed with his application various press clippings carrying reports of press conferences of Faisal Saleh Hayat and Sheikh Rashid, wherein they had claimed that Mr Paracha was in league with militants.

Although the applicant has not annexed any FIR with his application, he has stated that on the basis of press reports he might be allowed a pre-arrest bail. He stated that the ministers had wrongly charged him in their statements.