LHC allows protective bail to PTI leader Shahbaz Gill

Lahore: The Lahore High Court (LHC) on allowed the protective bail of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Dr Shahbaz Gill in a new case registered against him by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA).

Justice Tariq Saleem Sheikh passed the order while hearing the bail plea of Dr. Shahbaz Gill and granted him protective bail till January 24.

As the hearing commenced, PTI leader Gill appeared before the court in a wheelchair.

During the hearing, the lawyer submitted that Gill was booked by the FIA. He submitted that Gill is likely to be arrested again in the new case.

The counsel said that the FIA was also not providing the details of the case against his client.

Shahbaz Gill through his counsel sought protective bail from the high court.

A federal law officer told the court that his client was unaware of the First Information Report’s (FIR) number—the new case.

After hearing arguments of both sides, Justice Tariq Saleem Sheikh allowed protective bailto Gill till January 24 and directed him to submit surety bonds worth Rs50,000.

The judge also directed the agency to provide copies of the cases against him and put off further hearing till the next week.

A day before, the federal government withdrew a petition seeking the cancellation of the bail of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Shahbaz Gill.

Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial was hearing the case who accepted the government’s plea to withdraw the case related to the cancellation of Shahbaz Gill’s plea.

The top judge conducted an in-chamber hearing and accepted the government’s application. Advocate Rizwan Abbasi appeared in the chamber on behalf of the federal government. The state counsel told the court that Shahbaz Gill repeated his crime, adding that an application would be submitted at the relevant forum for cancellation of the bail.

It may be mentioned here that a district and sessions court in Islamabad fixed January 20 for the indictment of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader and former SAPM, Dr Shahbaz Gill in a sedition case.