Peshawar (Web Desk): The Peshawar High Court (PHC) on Wednesday ordered the release of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader and former federal minister of state for parliamentary affairs Ali Muhammad Khan.
According to details, a two-member bench of the PHC comprising Justice Ejaz Anwar and Justice SM Atiq Shah heard the petition against Khan’s arrest under Section 3 of the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) after nationwide protests broke out on May 9 following the PTI chief's arrest.
In his remarks, Justice Anwar said that those who held a press conference are let go off, but those who don't are arrested again. The judge was referring to PTI leaders announcing their departure from the party after being repeatedly arrested.
Justice Anwar questioned how such serious allegations could end with a press conference.
The court then directed the authorities to release the former minister while announcing the verdict. It also directed Khan to submit bonds worth Rs100,000 as surety against his bail.
The PHC reserved its decision after hearing the arguments.
Later, the court in a short order directed for the PTI leader to be released after depositing two surety bonds of Rs100,000 each.
Moreover, the court also accepted the pleas of some other people arrested under Section 3 of the MPO.
Ali Muhammad Khan was initially arrested from Islamabad on May 11 amid the crackdown on PTI leaders following the violent protest on May 9.
He was released and rearrested multiple times before being taken into custody by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police (KP).
On May 30, the former minister of the state secured the orders of his release from the Lahore High Court's (LHC) Rawalpindi Bench, however, he was rearrested from outside the Adiala Jail under the same law by KP police.
