ATC rejects TLP chief Khadim Rizvi's request for bail

Published February 18, 2019
Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) chief Khadim Hussain Rizvi. ─ AP/File
Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) chief Khadim Hussain Rizvi. ─ AP/File

An anti-terrorism court in Lahore on Monday rejected Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) chief Khadim Hussain Rizvi's request for bail in a case lodged against him for launching a violent protest against the acquittal of Aasia Bibi.

Tehreek-i-Labbaik Ya Rasool Allah (TLYRA) chief Pir Afzal Qadri's request for bail was also rejected by the ATC.

Civil Lines police had registered a FIR under sections 290/291/353/427/186/188 of Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) and section 6 of the Sound System Punjab Ordinance 2015 against Rizvi and other leaders of the TLP for protests after Aasia Bibi was acquitted by the Supreme Court in October last year. Section 7 of Anti-Terrorism Act 1997 was later added to the FIR.

Rizvi was presented before the judge in ATC-IV amid tight security. His lawyer argued in court that a suitable environment be provided for the betterment of his client's health.

Rizvi's counsel had stated in the bail petition that the provision of the ATA was falsely included in the case. The lawyer had argued in the petition that the FIR was altered and fabricated and claimed that the petitioner and others accused had not committed any offences against the state, but had been politically victimised.

He had argued that the investigation had been completed by police and keeping Rizvi behind bars would serve no purpose.

The counsel had also stated that Rizvi had been imprisoned since his Nov 23 arrest and it was causing him health issues due to his disability. He requested the court to grant Rizvi bail.

After hearing arguments from both sides, the court rejected the request for bail.

Opinion

Editorial

Short-changed?
Updated 24 Nov, 2024

Short-changed?

As nations continue to argue, the international community must recognise that climate finance is not merely about numbers.
Overblown ‘threat’
24 Nov, 2024

Overblown ‘threat’

ON the eve of the PTI’s ‘do or die’ protest in the federal capital, there seemed to be little evidence of the...
Exclusive politics
24 Nov, 2024

Exclusive politics

THERE has been a gradual erasure of the voices of most marginalised groups from Pakistan’s mainstream political...
Counterterrorism plan
Updated 23 Nov, 2024

Counterterrorism plan

Lacunae in our counterterrorism efforts need to be plugged quickly.
Bullish stock market
23 Nov, 2024

Bullish stock market

NORMALLY, stock markets rise gradually. In recent months, however, Pakistan’s stock market has soared to one ...
Political misstep
Updated 23 Nov, 2024

Political misstep

To drag a critical ally like Saudi Arabia into unfounded conspiracies is detrimental to Pakistan’s foreign policy.