LAHORE: An anti-terrorism court on Monday granted post-arrest bail to PTI social media activist Sanam Javed in the last May 9-related case against her, and also denied the police her physical remand in a new case.

Judge Arshad Javed announced a reserved verdict on the petition of the activist, allowing her bail in a case of torching the PML-N office in Model Town, directing the petitioner to furnish bail bonds worth Rs200,000.

Later, the police affected the arrest of Ms Javed in another case for allegedly attacking Shadman police station on may 9 and produced her before an ATC with a request for her physical remand.

Advocate Shakil Pasha, the counsel for the activist, opposed the remand and argued that the police implicated the petitioner in a new case to frustrate her release on bail. He asked the court to reject the remand request and discharge her in the case.

Sent on judicial remand in another case

Judge Naveed Iqbal turned down the police request for Ms Javed’s physical remand and sent her to jail on judicial remand.

In the bail petition, Advocate Pasha argued the police arrested Ms Javed in the case pertaining to attack on the PML-N office six months after her arrest in other cases. He argued that the petitioner was not even present at the place where the alleged incident occurred. He asked the court to release the petitioner on bail.

Deputy Prosecutor Abdul Jabbar Dogar opposed the bail petition, saying the suspect and other workers of the PTI attacked the public and private properties on May 9 in an organised manner. He said the suspect also incited the public to violence against the state.

He said the challan (investigation report) had been filed in the court and the trial was about to conclude.

Sanam Javed has been granted bail in six cases against her, including the one pertaining to the attack on the Jinnah House, which also serves as the Lahore corps commander’s residence. She is a candidate from NA-119 against PML-N vice president Maryam Nawaz. However, the PTI did not nominate her as a party’s candidate.

Published in Dawn, January 30th, 2024