KARACHI: A sessions court on Friday granted interim bail to two Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) leaders in a case pertaining to an alleged assault on policemen during a rally near Disco Bakery, Gulshan-i-Iqbal.

According to the FIR, the complainant stated that on July 20, when he was patrolling the area at 8pm near Disco Bakery, he saw PTI leader Haleem Adil Sheikh, Raja Azhar and other party leaders accompanied by 200 to 250 supporters, some of whom were carrying flags and sticks. They had allegedly blocked the road.

When a police van arrived, they were asked to clear the road, but instead of dispersing, the activists in the rally began attacking the police with sticks and stones. As a result, a police constable was injured, the windshield of the police van shattered and several cars present at the scene were also damaged.

On Friday, Haleem Adil Sheikh and Raja Azhar Khan filed the applications through their counsel before Additional District and Sessions Judge (East) Manzoor Ali Khamisani, seeking pre-arrest bail in this case.

After the preliminary hearing, the court allowed the applications and granted the interim bail against the surety bonds of Rs5,000 each along with a personal bond.

The court also issued notices to the state prosecutor, investigation officer for Aug 11 and asked police to submit record. It directed the applicants to join the investigation or trial and warned that not joining it would be a ground to recall the order.

A case was registered at Gulshan-i-Iqbal police station under Sections 353 (Assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty), 186 (Obstructing public servant in discharge of public functions), 147 (Punishment for rioting), 149 (Every member of unlawful assembly guilty of offence committed in prosecution of common object), 341 (Punishment for wrongful restraint), 427 (Mischief causing damage to the amount of fifty rupees), 337-A (Shajjah) of the Pakistan Penal Code.

Published in Dawn, Aug 2nd, 2025