GUJRAT: A Hafizabad court on Friday confirmed the pre-arrest bails of six journalists in a case of allegedly offering resistance to police and helping some proclaimed offenders in fleeing the outhouse of former MNA Mehdi Hassan Bhatti.

The journalists had been granted pre-arrest bails by a court until November 29 after being booked by Kassoki police in Hafizabad district. Two of the journalists, Amjad Pervez and Sheikh Javed, did not apply for the bail despite being booked in the same case.

Hafizabad additional district and session judge, confirming their pre-arrest bails, ordered the six journalists to submit surety bonds worth Rs50,000 each.

Advocates Shah Nawaz Madni and Arshad Mehand represented the journalists in the court.

As per reports, the journalists were present at the outhouse of former MNA Mehdi Hassan Bhatti, where his daughter MNA Aneeqa Mehdi Bhatti was scheduled to address a news conference. Meanwhile, Hafizabad police reached there, pushed the media persons out, refusing to allow them to attend the news conference.

Later, a case was registered against eight of the journalists -- Amjad Parvez, Hafiz Azizur Rehman, Shahbaz Gul, Sheikh Javed, Asrar Shah, Javed Asad, Ehsanullah and Shafaqat Wattoo, under various sections of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) on the report of Sub-Inspector Mushtaq Hussain.

Journalists associations condemned the registration of a case against their colleagues who were performing their professional duties, demanding quashing of the FIR.

As per sources, the police had raided the venue on a tip-off regarding presence of ex-MNA Shaukat Bhatti, who is a proclaimed offender and some other POs.

The police alleged that the booked journalists helped the ex-MNA and others in escaping from the venue and interfered in the official work.

The journalists denied the allegations and termed the police action unjustified.

Published in Dawn, November 30th, 2024