PESHAWAR, Sept 17: The Peshawar High Court on Friday dismissed a pre-arrest bail petition filed by a former MNA of Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz), Jawed Ibraheem Paracha, in a case alleging that he hatched a conspiracy to hit various important buildings, including the Presidency and the GHQ.

A single-judge bench Justice Dost Mohammad Khan observed that the petition of Mr Paracha was premature. The bench directed the petitioner to file a petition before the district and sessions judge concerned if he faced any threat of arrest.

The court observed that till date no FIR could be produced which could confirm that the petitioner was accused of having links with Al Qaeda militants. It was observed that when there was no immediate possibility of his arrest the court could not grant pre-arrest bail to him.

At the very outset of the proceedings, Mr Paracha, who was himself pleading his case in the absence of his counsel, stated that he had been apprehending that he would be arrested in a fake case.

The former MNA said he was often chased by different vehicles while coming from Kohat to Peshawar to attend court proceedings. The bench inquired why he had not been arrested till date? The bench further observed that the petitioner had not produced any FIR which could prove that he was charged in the case.

Mr Paracha pointed out that the former federal interior minister, Faisal Saleh Hayat, and Information Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmad had stated in their press conferences that he (Mr Paracha) was having links with Al Qaeda militants. The court observed that he could move the court of district and sessions judge and file a pre-arrest bail petition if there was any threat to his liberty.

The applicant has annexed with his application various press clippings carrying the press conferences of Mr Hayat and Mr Ahmad, wherein they had claimed that Mr Paracha was in league with the militants. Although, the applicant had not annexed any FIR with his application, but had stated that on the basis of press reports he may be allowed pre-arrest bail.