PESHAWAR: Peshawar High Court on Wednesday granted transit bails to Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf secretary general Salman Akram Raja and two lawmakers in cases registered after the party’ last month protests.

A single-member bench of PHC Chief Justice Ishtiaq Ibrahim allowed bail to Mr Raja till January 3 in eight cases registered against him in Islamabad and to MNAs Shahid Khattak and Amjid Ali in different cases till December 31, directing them to approach relevant courts by that dates, otherwise those orders would become ineffective.

Mr Raja informed the high court that he belonged to the major opposition party and after their recent protests in Islamabad the government registered multiple cases against him and other party leaders. He stated that he wanted to surrender before relevant courts in those cases, but he apprehended that he would be arrested on way to courts.

He said that presently there was an ongoing season of FIRs registration against PTI leaders. He added that he had no idea about the contents of FIRs against him.

Salman Raja warns govt against convicting political leaders in ‘baseless’ cases

Mr Raja requested the bench to grant him transit bail in the said cases so that he could freely approach relevant courts. When the bench inquired from him whether he was an MNA, he replied that as per Form-45 he was the MNA.

Similarly, in the petitions of MNAs Shahid Khattak and Amjid Ali, their counsel contended that they were charged in concocted cases by the government and they wanted to appear before relevant courts for which they needed transit bail.

Moreover, another bench consisting of Justice Sahibzada Asadullah and Justice Wiqar Ahmad granted protective bail to Mr Raja for a month, directing law enforcement agencies not to arrest him in any of the cases registered against him.

The bench issued notice to federal government and sought details of cases registered against him.

Advocate Alam Khan Adenzai appeared for the petitioner and stated that so far they were aware about eight of the cases registered against Mr Raja and in those cases he was granted transit bail by the bench of PHC chief justice. He added that they were not aware about any other case against the petitioner.

He argued that it was fundamental right of the petitioner that he should be informed about the cases wherein he was charged by law enforcement agencies. He requested the bench to seek details from the government and its law enforcement agencies about the cases against the petitioner so that he could approach relevant courts.

Meanwhile, Salman Akram Raja told journalists on the premises of high court that they had been fighting for the supremacy of the Constitution and law in the country. He added that the issue was not confined to PTI only rather belonged to the entire nation.

He claimed that the people, who were arrested in connection with Nov 26 protests, were implicated in the last year May 9 cases. He stated that the government was utilising the judicial system for its political objectives.

He said that government was trying to connect PTI founder Imran Khan with the trial of Faiz Hameed so as to conduct his trial by a military court, which would be a dangerous act.

He warned the government not to repeat the mistake, which was carried out regarding late Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto in 1977 and 1979, as it would result in anarchy in the country.

“We have to follow the Constitution and law and should not be convicting political leaders and Imran Khan in concocted and baseless cases,” Mr Raja said. He added that it would be an injustice with the country.

Published in Dawn, December 12th, 2024