ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday sought a response from a judge who dismissed a bail plea because the accused was chewing gum inside the courtroom.

The accused, Yasir Arafat, was seeking bail before arrest under section 498 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC). Additional District and Sessions Judge Mohammad Adnan refused to grant him bail because of his “non submissive” behaviour on Jan 31.

According to the court order, Mr Arafat did not appear before the court when his case was called and came at the second call with his lawyer Sardar Adnan Khan.

The judge noted in the order that Mr Arafat was chewing gum and “when asked for the reason he could not give a satisfactory reply”.

Judge Adnan observed: “The conduct of applicant seems to be non-submissive which is the mandatory requirement for [seeking] the extraordinary concession of bail before arrest.”

He ruled: “Hence, instant application under section 498 of CrPC is dismissed.”

Sources in the high court told Dawn that Judge Adnan submitted a report to the registrar’s office in response to the explanation sought.

According to the sources, the judge justified the dismissal of the bail application saying that it was mandatory for such petitioners to show reverence to the court.

A senior official of the sessions court when contacted said that a petitioner is required to follow the court’s decorum when called by the judge. He said that in this case, the judge noticed the petitioner’s “indifferent” behaviour and subsequently dismissed his bail plea.

Published in Dawn, February 4th, 2020