Slain Baloch leader Akbar Bugti. — File photo

QUETTA, Jan 22: A division bench of the Balochistan High Court has asked applicants former Balochistan chief minister Jam Muhammad Yousuf, former interior minister Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao and former provincial home minister Mir Shoaib Nausherwani to approach the trial court for the grant of pre-arrest bail in Nawab Akbar Bugti murder case.

The bench comprising Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhel and Justice Ghulam Mustafa Mengal said on Tuesday the court’s orders dated July 16, 2012 and August 28, 2012 that granted interim bail before arrest should continue till the final disposal of the main applications by the trial court.

The court said an FIR (No 26 of 2009) was registered at Dera Bugti police station under section 302 and 34 PPC against the accused and an incomplete challan of the case was submitted before the special judge of the Anti-Terrorism Court at Sibi.

The court said the applicants were granted pre-arrest bail as they sensed danger while travelling to appear before the trial court at Sibi.

The applicants filed constitutional petitions requesting the court to transfer the main case from Sibi to Quetta which was accepted and the case was transferred to special judge of the Anti-Terrorism Court, Quetta.

In existing circumstances, the situation had changed, therefore the applicants may avail remedy from the trial court at Quetta.

The court directed the office to transmit the original applications along with documents to trial court which should proceed to decide pre-arrest bail applications strictly in accordance with the law after hearing the parties.