ISLAMABAD / QUETTA: While the Balochistan High Court (BHC) on Monday issued orders for quashing of three more cases registered against Azam Swati in various parts of the province, the counsel for the PTI senator concluded arguments before an FIA court in Islamabad, seeking post-arrest bail for his client.

Babar Awan argued before the FIA’s special court that the complainant, who had lodged the FIR against Mr Swati’s controversial tweets, was not an aggrieved person.

He said the case had been registered by the FIA and it is not on a par with the complaint filed under the defamation laws.

Mr Awan argued that the court, headed by Judge Azam Khan, can impose a maximum penalty of Rs1,000 on Senator Swati over his tweets, but he is being dragged from one province to another.

The court asked FIA’s special prosecutor Raja Rizwan Abbasi to advance his arguments on Tuesday.

Awan concludes arguments for PTI senator’s bail

Earlier this month, the FIA arrested Mr Swati for defamation, statement conducing to public mischief, and a highly obnoxious campaign of intimidating tweets that he launched after a fiery speech at a PTI rally in Rawalpindi in which he lashed out at senior military leadership.

He was taken to Balochistan before being transferred to Sindh.

In Quetta, a BHC bench headed by Justice Abdul Hameed Baloch ordered the police to quash three more cases, which were registered against Mr Swati in Hub and Chaman districts.

The court issued the orders while hearing a constitutional petition filed by Usman Swati, the son of Mr Swati, in which he had pleaded that multiple cases could not be registered on the same charges.

He urged the court to quash the cases registered in Winder, Hub and Chaman towns.

After quashing of these three cases, no other case is left against the PTI leader in Balochistan, the court observed.

It may be recalled that the BHC had last week ordered that no new case should be registered against Mr Swati on the same charges in the province.

Earlier on Dec 6, five similar cases reregistered in Quetta, Qila Abdullah, Pishin, Qila Saifullah and Kuchlak towns had been quashed on the court’s orders.

Mr Swati was booked under Section 20 of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act, 2016, which deals with offences against the dignity of a person.

Imran’s bail extended

Meanwhile, the anti-terrorism court of Islamabad extended the interim bail of PTI Chairman Imran Khan in a case lodged against him with the Sangjani Police Station for violating the order of Election Commission of Pakistan.

Babar Awan, who represented the former prime minister, through an application sought exemption for Mr Khan from personal appearance on medical grounds.

The court extended the interim bail till Jan 10 and adjourned the hearing till that date.

Besides, the court granted post-arrest bail to Punjab Assembly’s Deputy Speaker Wasiq Qayyum Abbasi.

An FIR was registered at the Industrial Area Police Station against Mr Abbasi in connection with alleged violence during the PTI’s long march.

Published in Dawn, December 20th, 2022