Sheikh Rashid Ahmed, the Awami Muslim League chief and former interior minister, has been granted bail by the Islamabad High Court (IHC) against surety bonds of Rs50,000.
He had sought bail in the case registered against him for making allegations against former president Asif Ali Zardari of plotting to kill former prime minister Imran Khan.
During the hearing, Rashid’s lawyer Salman Akram Raja informed the court that his client was seeking post-arrest bail. Raja explained that the additional sessions judge had rejected the bail plea in the case based on a single allegation against Rashid. He added that the case against his client was registered on the basis of a statement aired on news channels.
When asked about the accusation, Raja stated that the evidence did not indicate that it triggered a fight between Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf and Pakistan Peoples Party. The court expressed concerns that Rashid might issue such statements again if he were released on bail. The advocate general of Islamabad, Jahangir Jadoon, argued that Rashid was a senior politician and his statements should have been parliamentary.
The government lawyer further alleged that Rashid had abused Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari. However, Raja intervened, stating that the government lawyer was referring to a different case. The investigating officer informed the court that they had obtained details of Rashid’s statement from the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA).
The officer said that Rashid had claimed to have received the information from Imran Khan. However, the investigators could not find any evidence of the alleged conspiracy to kill Imran Khan in Rashid’s possession.
The court reserved its verdict in the case, which was later announced. The decision to grant bail to Rashid against surety bonds of Rs50,000 was made, and he will be released from jail on judicial remand.
