ISLAMABAD: Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) Special Judge Raja Jawad Abbas Hassan on Tuesday ordered the release of PTI’s lawmaker Saleh Mohammad after accepting his post-arrest bail plea.

Mr Saleh was arrested after a protest and firing incident outside the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) following the disqualification of PTI Chairman Imran Khan on October 21. The court accepted his post-arrest bail against Rs100,000 surety bonds.

Police have booked the lawmaker and his two gunmen, belonging to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police, on terrorism charges for allegedly shooting at the police deployed on the security duty outside the ECP.

Mr Saleh was also charged with attempted murder, violation of Section 144 and abetment.

The FIR stated that the MNA asked his security guards to resort to firing so they fired directly at the police; however, the police officials “narrowly escaped” the gunfire.

According to the FIR, the purpose of carrying weapons by the MNA and his accomplices was to harm people and create a law and order situation.

Shibli’s petition dismissed

Additional District and Sessions Judge (ADSJ) Zafar Iqbal on Tuesday dismissed a petition filed by PTI leader Shibli Faraz in a case related to alleged violation of Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) for non-prosecution.

Mr Faraz was nominated in the case registered with the Aabpara police of Islamabad for bringing out a rally on August 20 in violation of Section 144.

On August 24, an ADSJ granted him as well as others nominated in the case pre-arrest interim bail.

When the court resumed hearing in the matter on Tuesday, neither Mr Shibli nor his counsel was present in the courtroom.

Subsequently, the court dismissed the plea for non-prosecution.

Published in Dawn, October 26th, 2022