LAHORE: A district and sessions court judge granted on Tuesday pre-arrest interim bail to PML-N MNA Afzal Khokhar and his brothers MPA Saiful Malook Khokhar and Shafi Khokhar in a case of occupying private land unlawfully.

The Khokhars brothers along with their counsel appeared before the court of Additional District and Sessions Court Judge Shahzad Raza where their counsel said the Nawab Town police lodged a case against his clients for illegally possessing private land. He denied the charges of illegal possession, saying petitioners were ready to join police investigation to prove their innocence. The counsel said there were apprehensions that the police might arrest his clients.

The judge allowed the bails and directed the petitioners to deposit surety bonds of Rs50,000 each.

Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar has taken suo motu notice into complaints by a number of individuals against Khokhars. The chief justice ordered the police to lodge cases on the complaints of citizens and get their land retrieved. On his direction, Anti-Corruption Establishment has also launched investigation into complaints against the Khokhars.

Published in Dawn, January 9th, 2019