LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Wednesday granted bail to a suspect allegedly involved in the Libya boat tragedy case, while refusing relief to another accused in a separate Italy boat tragedy case involving alleged human trafficking.

Justice Syed Shahbaz Ali Rizvi approved the bail petition of Shafaqat Hussain, who was accused of being a key suspect in the Libya boat accident case.

During the hearing, the suspect’s counsel argued that there was no documentary evidence proving that Shafaqat had received money from the victims.

The lawyer contended that although the case was registered in 2023, the trial had not yet commenced.

The counsel said the accused was arrested without justification after his return from Libya. He asked the court to grant him bail.

The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) had registered the case on the complaint of Mulazim Hussain, father of victim Anees, who died in the boat accident while attempting to travel abroad.

The judge ordered the suspect to furnish surety bonds worth Rs500,000.

Meanwhile, Justice Tanvir Ahmad Sheikh of the LHC rejected the bail petition of another accused, Muhammad Arshad, in an Italy boat tragedy case.

Justice Sheikh observed that people who lure innocent citizens abroad with ‘golden dreams’ [greener pastures] and put their lives at risk do not deserve leniency.

Published in Dawn, June 25th, 2026