LAHORE: The Lahore High Court on Thursday directed the counsel for Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) leader Pir Afzal Qadri to present a copy of an apology letter of his client released to the media the other day.

A division bench headed by Justice Muhammad Qasim Khan was hearing bail petitions of TLP head Khadim Hussain Rizvi and Mr Qadri in a case of leading violent protests against the acquittal of Christian woman Aasia Bibi from blasphemy charge.

The counsel told the bench that Mr Qadri had been suffering from serious illness and his treatment was not possible in the jail. He said a medical board had also recommended treatment of the petitioner at the Punjab Institute of Cardiology.

The counsel argued that former prime minister Nawaz Sharif had been released on bail even his illness was not as much serious as that of Mr Qadri. However, the bench observed that Mr Sharif had not been granted bail but a six-week relaxation by the Supreme Court to get medical treatment.

Justice Khan noted that a news item had appeared in daily newspapers about apology of Mr Qadri. The judge directed the counsel to present a copy of the apology in the court on May 7.

Meanwhile, the bench adjourned proceedings on the bail petitions on the request of a deputy prosecutor.

Previously, the bench withdrew an offer made to Rizvi for the grant of bail if he furnished a written undertaking that he would not disrupt law and order in future. The counsel of Rizvi failed to come up with such undertaking saying he had not been allowed to visit his client in the jail.

Civil Lines police had registered the FIR under sections 290/291/353/427/186/188 of Pakistan Penal Code (PPC), section 6 of Sound System Punjab Ordinance 2015 and section 7 of Anti-Terrorism Act 1997 against the TLP leaders after they led violent protests against the acquittal of Christian woman Aasia Bibi from blasphemy charge.

Published in Dawn, May 3rd, 2019