ISLAMABAD: District and Sessions Court Islamabad on Saturday dismissed pre-arrest bail petitions of KP chief minister’s special assistant and other officials allegedly involved in a smear campaign against Judge Humayun Dilawar.

The ruling will impact multiple officials with one already in the FIA custody on a four-day physical remand. They were accused of scandalising Special Judge Central Humayun Dilawar following the KP Anti-Corruption Establishment issued arrest warrants against the judge and his family in connection with a land dispute case in their native town.

They were on pre-arrest interim bail and required to appear before the court.

However, the Chief Minister’s Special Assistant on Anti-Corruption retired Brigadier Mohammad Musaddiq Abbasi along with ACE officials Siddique Anjum and Umar Siddique did not appear before Additional District and Sessions Judge Mohammad Afzal Majoka. Due to their absence despite the issuance of two summons the court dismissed their bail petitions on grounds of non-prosecution.

Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) produced Assistant Director Anti-Corruption Umar Sadiq before Senior Civil Judge Mohammad Abbas Shah, alleging he circulated a social media video linked to the case. The FIA sought a seven-day physical remand, citing a need to identify other suspects. Sadiq denied his involvement, claiming he was falsely accused after refusing alleged favors, and pointed out that the actual leaker had received interim bail.

After hearing both the sides, the court approved his four-day physical remand to facilitate the investigation.

In a related development, Siddique Anjum re-filed a pre-arrest bail petition before Judge Majoka, appearing with his lawyer Niazullah Khan Niazi. The court granted him interim bail against bonds worth Rs20,000 and set the next hearing for November 11.

The FIA registered the First Information Report (FIR) against Abbasi, ACE KP officials and a vlogger for allegedly attempting to discredit Judge Humayun Dilawar. The judge had earlier convicted former prime minister Imran Khan in the Toshakhana case.

The FIR was registered after the ACE KP filed a land dispute case against Judge Dilawar and his family on September 9, leading to the issuance of warrants by a judicial magistrate. Records show Judge Dilawar’s family acquired land in Bannu in 1970 and a housing project legally progressing under the PTI government.

However, after former prime minister Imran Khan was convicted by Judge Dilawar on the Election Commission of Pakistan’s complaint for concealing details of Toshakhana gifts in his assets declaration, the family reportedly faced intimidation which allegedly intensified under PTI’s administration following the February 8 elections.

Published in Dawn, November 3rd, 2024