PESHAWAR: Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf’s (PTI) central leader Ali Mohammad Khan was arrested for a sixth time by the anti-corruption establishment (ACE) soon after he was released from Mardan jail on bail by a special court in a case on Tuesday.

The PTI leader was taken into custody by ACE officials in a case registered against him on June 26, as only four days ago the government had informed the Peshawar High Court there was no case against him.

According to the fresh allegations, the former minister of state and several other former lawmakers committed irregularities by awarding contracts in developmental schemes to their ‘favourites’.

The PTI central leader was earlier granted bail by the anti-corruption court senior special judge, Babar Ali Khan, on surety bonds of Rs80,000 in a case against him and other former legislators of PTI from Mardan for ‘illegal appointments’ in the fisheries department.

“Ali Mohammad, who is in Mardan prison, was again taken into custody by the anti-corruption officials after he was released in accordance with the order of the court,” his counsel Ali Zaman said, adding that the government had made a mockery of the law.

Four days ago the government had informed the PHC that no other case was pending against his client.

On Tuesday, the special judge also granted bail to ex-minister Shakeel Ahmad in a case pertaining to ‘illegal’ appointments in the Malakand DHQ hospital.

In separate orders, the court ruled that both ex-ministers were neither member of the relevant selection committee nor the appointing authority.

Published in Dawn, June 28th, 2023