ATC grants Faisal Raza Abidi bail until Oct 11

Published October 2, 2018
Faisal Raza Abidi at the ATC court on Tuesday. — Photo by author
Faisal Raza Abidi at the ATC court on Tuesday. — Photo by author

An anti-terrorism court (ATC) on Tuesday accepted former senator Faisal Raza Abidi's request for interim bail in a case regarding alleged defamation of judges.

Abidi was booked on Sept 19 by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and the capital police for allegedly using abusive language against judges in an interview.

The case was registered under PPC sections 228, 500, 505(ii) and 34, as well as the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA), in response to a complaint lodged by Supreme Court Public Relations Officer Shahid Hussain Kamboyo.

The FIR said that a video on social media clearly showed that Abidi was highly abusive and contemptuous, used threatening language and levelled allegations against government institutions that were created via the Constitution and against individuals at the highest constitutional posts.

The FIR claimed that through his speech, Abidi caused panic, scared the public and intimidated constitutional functionaries in order to keep them from discharging their obligation.

It added that the language used by Abidi was punishable under the ATA and provisions of the PPC.

During Tuesday's hearing regarding the 'anti-judiciary remarks', Judge Kausar Abbas Zaidi granted Abidi, who was present in the court along with his lawyer, bail until Oct 11.

The Islamabad High Court a day earlier had given the former PPP leader day-long protective bail.

Another case has also been registered by the FIA against Abidi regarding the same social media video, which is being investigated by its cyber crime unit.

Abidi is expected to appear before an FIA special court with regards to the second case on Wednesday.

Opinion

Editorial

Electable politics
Updated 04 Dec, 2023

Electable politics

With the PTI still on the wrong side of the political equation, the prospects will be bright for whoever takes the lead.
War of narratives
04 Dec, 2023

War of narratives

MILITARILY, there is no match between the Israeli war machine, and the defenceless people of Gaza. On one side is a...
Returns on deposits
04 Dec, 2023

Returns on deposits

DESPITE the deceleration of deposit mobilisation, bank deposits have jumped to a record high of Rs25.6tr in FY23. ...
Promises, promises
Updated 03 Dec, 2023

Promises, promises

The climate crisis transcends national borders and political agendas, demanding a unified, decisive response.
PCB’s strange decision
03 Dec, 2023

PCB’s strange decision

THE Pakistan Cricket Board’s decision-making and the way it is being run has become a joke. A day after appointing...
Resettling Afghans
03 Dec, 2023

Resettling Afghans

FOR two years now, since the Afghan Taliban took Kabul, thousands of Afghans in Pakistan who had worked for Western...