ISLAMABAD: PTI leader and senior lawyer Shoaib Shaheen was released from Adiala jail on Saturday following the anti-terrorism court’s order granting him post-arrest bail in the cases registered against him after Sept 8 public meeting in Sangjani.

The Islamabad High Court (IHC), on the other hand restrained the police from arresting PTI lawmaker Sher Afzal Khan Marwat without the court’s nod.

IHC Justice Saman Rafat Imtiaz linked the arrest of Marwat with the prior approval of the court while hearing his petition seeking protection against unforeseen cases.

Marwat expressed apprehensions in the petition that the police may arrest him in the FIR that might be sealed in some police station.

The court also issued notices to the secretary interior, inspectors general of Islamabad and Punjab police and the director general Federal Investigation Agency (FIA). The judge sought the details of the cases registered against Marwat across Pakistan.

PTI lawmakers Amir Dogar, Sheikh Waqas Akram, Sher Afzal Marwat, Ahmad Chattha, Shaheen and others were booked in the FIRs registered in Noon and Sangjani police stations of Islamabad. ATC judge Tahir Sipra, however, granted post arrest bail to Shaheen against Rs100,000 surety bonds.

The judge deferred the hearing on the petitions of others till Monday.

According to Shaheen’s lawyers, the police stated in the FIR that Shaheen was holding the pistol, however, a baton was recovered from his possession.

Published in Dawn, September 15th, 2024