LAHORE: An anti-terrorism court on Monday granted post-arrest bail to PTI-backed independent defeated candidate from NA-119 Mian Shahzad Farooq in a case of attacking a police team and resorting to violence.

Earlier, a counsel for Farooq argued that the police implicated his client in a fabricated case purely on political grounds. He said the petitioner and other workers of the PTI were holding a peaceful protest against the election commission when police arrested them.

He asked the court to release the petitioner on bail.

Judge Naveed Iqbal allowed the bail to Farooq subject to furnishing surety bonds of Rs200,000.

Gujjarpura police had arrested Farooq and nine other suspects last week.

However, the trial court had denied police physical remand of the PTI leader, sending him to jail on judicial remand and discharged other suspects.

The prosecution accused the PTI men of taking out an unlawful protest rally and opening fire on police personnel.

Farooq lost his election to PML-N vice president Maryam Nawaz from NA-119, Lahore.

JINNAH HOUSE: An anti-terrorism court on Monday granted post-arrest bail to 19 activists of PTI in the Jinnah House attack case.

Judge Naveed Iqbal allowed the bail petitions of the activists subject to furnishing surety bonds of Rs100,000 each.

Sarwar Road police had registered the case against the PTI leaders and workers on charges of attacking and vandalising the Jinnah House, which also serves as residence of Lahore’s corps commander, during the May 9 protests.

BAIL: The Lahore High Court on Monday granted bail to Attique Riaz, husband of PTI social media activist Sanam Javed, in the Jinnah House attack case.

An anti-terrorism court in November last dismissed his bail petition.

Ms Javed is also behind bars for her alleged involvement in the May 9 riots.

Separately, ATC Judge Arshad Javed adjourned the hearing of three May 9 cases against PTI leaders Dr Yasmin Rashid, Senator Ijaz Chaudhry, former governor Omar Sarfraz Cheema, former provincial minister Mian Mahmoodur Rasheed and others.

The judge would resume the hearing on March 2 in cases of burning party office of PML-N in Model Town, torching police vehicles in Gulberg and violence on Sherpao Bridge.

Published in Dawn, February 20th, 2024