LAHORE: A judicial magistrate of Model Town Courts on Saturday granted bail to a visiting teacher of FC College who had been arrested for participating in a protest organised by the Pashtun Tahaffuz Movement (PTM).

The police registered a case against Dr Ammar Ali Jan under Section 16 of Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) ordinance and some sections of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC).

Representing the teacher, Asad Jamal argued that the petitioner had nothing to do with the alleged offence and he had not participated in the occurrence. He said the police arrested the petitioner with mala fide intentions and the offences made against him did not fall within the ambit of prohibitory clause. However, a deputy district prosecutor opposed the bail petition, saying that the petitioner was well nominated in the FIR.

After hearing the arguments, Judicial Magistrate Asif Iqbal observed that the investigation had been completed and the suspect was no more required to the police. He further observed that no purpose would be served by keeping the suspect behind bars for an indefinite period.

The magistrate noted that although the suspect was nominated in the FIR, he was not arrested from the spot at the time of the alleged occurrence.

“The offence levelled against the accused under the PPC is bailable in nature whereas to the extent of offence under Section 16 of MPO does not fall within the ambit of prohibitory clause,” observed the magistrate in his order.

“Bail in such cases is a rule and refusal is exception. Hence the petitioner is admitted to bail subject to furnishing surety bonds in sum of Rs50,000,” read the bail grant order.

Published in Dawn, February 10th, 2019