ATC approves Shoaib Shaheen’s bail, ordering immediate release

Islamabad: Judge Tahir Abbas Sipra of the Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) Islamabad excused himself from hearing the bail application of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders Sher Afzal, Sheikh Waqas, Ahmed Chattha, and Ahmed Ali and granted post-arrest bail to Shoaib Shaheen ordering immediate release.

The court granted Shoaib Shaheen's bail against the surety bond of Rs100,000.

On this occasion, the lawyers of the state, Ali Azad, Umair Baloch and the investigating officer and others appeared in the court.

PTI Members of National Assembly (MNAs) Riasat Hussain Azad and Adil Qazi advocate appeared before the court.

The lawyer told the court that Shoaib Shaheen is currently in Adiala Jail, on bail in one case while physical remand in the other case was annulled by the High Court.

The records of two of the three cases were presented to the court, at which point there was a break in the hearing.

When the hearing resumed after a break, the investigating officer appeared with the record.

Riasat Ali Azad Advocate took the stand that the record has arrived, some submissions have to be made. To which Judge Tahir Abbas remarked that if the prosecutor does not come, it is a matter of a day, the hearing will be held a day later.

He said that all MNAs are in jail but Shoaib Shaheen and other workers are in jail, two members are senior members of Islamabad Bar, the court should see if this FIR is sustainable.

Ali Azad Advocate continued the arguments that the FIR mentions the killing of a policeman but there is no medical certificate. Shoaib Shaheen is accused of pistol but a baton was recovered.

Judge Tahir Abbas Sipra inquired as to where the recovery of the baton was written, to which the lawyer said that yesterday before the Islamabad High Court (IHC), the investigating officer told that the baton was recovered from him.

The judge excused himself from hearing the bail application of Sher Afzal, Sheikh Waqas, Ahmad Chattha, and Ahmed Ali.

Judge Tahir Abbas Sipra remarked: “I am trying to decide on Shoaib Shaheen's bail request today. The residences of Marwat, Sheikh Waqas, Ahmed Chattha, and Ahmed Ali have already been declared as sub-jails.

Later, ATC Islamabad Judge Tahir Abbas granted Shoaib Shaheen's post-arrest bail on a bond of Rs100,000.

ATC Judge Abul Hasnat Zulqarnain will hear the bail application of Sher Afzal, Sheikh Waqas, Ahmad Chattha, and Ahmad Ali.

It is pertinent to note that yesterday Speaker National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq had declared the parliament lodges as sub-jails for the arrested members of PTI.

Earlier, the IHC canceled the eight-day physical remand of the arrested members of the National Assembly of PTI, Sher Afzal Marwat, Aamir Dogar, Zain Qureshi, Naseem Shah, Ahmed Chattha and others and sent them to jail on judicial remand.

It is pertinent to note that on September 10, Islamabad police arrested PTI leaders MNAs Zain Qureshi, Sheikh Waqas Akram, MNA Naseem-ur-Rahman and Shah Ahmed Khattak from inside the Parliament House.

Islamabad's ATC handed over PTI leaders Sher Afzal Marwat, Aamir Dogar, Zain Qureshi, Naseem Shah, Ahmed Chattha and others to the police on eight-day physical remand.