QUETTA, Dec 27: An anti-terrorism court, which had earlier cancelled the bail of journalist Khawar Mehdi, on Monday ordered that the journalist be informed through newspaper advertisements to appear before the court.

A police investigation officer informed Judge Shaukat Rakshani that after the cancellation of the bail, a police party raided the house of Mr Mehdi in Rawalpindi but his brother informed police that Khawar Mehdi had left for the United States on Dec 13.

The counsel for Abdul Baseer, who had filed a surety bond for the bail of Mr Mehdi, sought time to present the accused before court but the judge directed that notices for appearance should be notified through advertisements in newspapers.

It may be recalled that police had arrested Khawar Mehdi and two French journalists on charges for defaming Pakistan by preparing a fake video film of a training camp of Taliban activists in Qila Abdullah district adjacent to the Afghanistan border.