PESHAWAR:
The Peshawar High Court (PHC) has granted protective bail to several senior Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders, including Member National Assembly (MNA) Atif Khan, Senator Mishal Yousafzai, Shahram Tarakai, Shahid Khattak, and Provincial Minister Faisal Tarakai.
The court also issued notices to the concerned institutions and barred them from arresting the petitioners, directing them instead to approach the relevant courts for further legal recourse.
A two-member bench comprising Justice Syed Arshad Ali and Justice Farah Jamshed heard the petition filed by MNA Atif Khan.
His counsel, Advocate Bashir Wazir, informed the court that his client, elected from Mardan, faced potential arrest due to several unspecified cases lodged against him. He requested the court to direct authorities to provide full details of the cases.
Justice Syed Arshad Ali remarked that there were no cases registered against Atif Khan within the court’s jurisdiction and granted protective bail, advising him to seek relief from the Islamabad or Lahore High Courts for cases filed elsewhere.
Advocate Bashir Wazir also requested access to details of FIRs lodged in Islamabad, stating that a case dated November 26 had recently led to the issuance of arrest warrants.
During the hearing, the Assistant Attorney General argued that if FIRs existed, the petitioner should approach the appropriate legal forum. In response, Justice Arshad Ali expressed frustration over the complications caused by both parties, noting that their actions had burdened the court.
The court approved Atif Khan’s protective bail and sought a response from the authorities by August 13.
In a separate hearing, Senator Mishal Yousafzai appeared before the bench. When asked to identify herself, she explained that she is a senator facing similar charges in Islamabad, where multiple FIRs have been filed against her. She said she had already appeared in some courts and requested additional time for protective bail due to her upcoming oath-taking.
