PESHAWAR, Oct 18: A single-member Peshawar High Court bench on Thursday directed the federal and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa governments to legislate for holding those, who gave calls for demonstrations but failed to control them, accountable.

It also granted bail to nine persons charged with arson, damage to public property and loot during violent demonstrations against an anti-Islam US film.

Chief Justice Dost Mohammad Khan issued directions for the dispatch of the copies of the court’s order to the federal law secretary, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief secretary and provincial law secretary so that steps for the purpose could be taken without delay.

The chief justice observed that the law was silent about the role of the organiser of such demonstrations, which turned violent and resulted in arson, loot and damaging public property.

He observed that the law should be made so that surety bonds could be obtained from the organiser of a demonstration at the time of giving permission and if any damage to public property was made, then the organiser or the relevant people should be held responsible and the surety money should be recovered from them.

The chief justice observed that those, who had given the call for demonstrations against anti-Islam film, were seen nowhere on that day and had left their supporters and general public to act in violent manner.

The nine accused, including Habibur Rehman, Mohammad Yousaf, Feroze, Asad, Naeem, were granted bail subject to the furnishing of two sureties of Rs300,000 each.

BAIL GRANTED: Another single-member Peshawar High Court bench on Thursday granted bail to a person charged with the killing of driver Waliur Rehman while trying to snatch his vehicle.

Khushrang Zaib got the bail from Justice Roohul Amin Chamkani subject to the furnishing of two surety bonds valuing Rs200,000 each.

Khizar Hayat Khazana, lawyer for the petitioner, said Waliur Rehman was attacked with dagger on Jan 27, 2012 in the jurisdiction of Chota Lahor police station in Swabi and died three days later.