PHC Grants Protective Bail to PTI Leaders Shibli Faraz and Zartaj Gul Until August 11.
The Peshawar High Court (PHC) on Wednesday granted protective bail to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders Shibli Faraz and Zartaj Gul Wazir, allowing them relief until August 11. The decision came during a hearing conducted by a two-member bench comprising Justices Arshad Ali and Farah Jamshed.
The court directed both leaders to appear before the relevant high court and file their appeals before the deadline.
ECP Disqualifies Key PTI Figures Over May 9 Convictions
A day earlier, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) disqualified several PTI lawmakers, including Shibli Faraz, Omar Ayub Khan, Zartaj Gul Wazir, and Sunni Ittehad Council chief Hamid Raza. The disqualifications followed their convictions in connection with the May 9, 2023 riots.
The riots erupted after the arrest of PTI founder Imran Khan, triggering violent protests across the country. Demonstrators vandalized military installations, attacked government buildings, and stormed the Lahore corps commander’s residence. Thousands of protesters, including senior PTI leaders, were subsequently arrested.
ATC Sentences Over 100 PTI Members to Rigorous Imprisonment
Last week, an anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Faisalabad sentenced more than 100 PTI leaders and workers to prison terms of up to 10 years for their involvement in the May 9 unrest. Among those sentenced were Shibli Faraz, Zartaj Gul, and National Assembly Opposition Leader Omar Ayub Khan.
PTI Leaders Challenge Disqualification and Verdicts in PHC
Following the ECP’s decision, Faraz and Ayub filed writ petitions in the PHC challenging their disqualification. Ayub also publicly criticized the ATC’s ruling, calling it a “bogus verdict” in a post on X (formerly Twitter). He vowed to contest both the ATC’s judgment and the ECP’s disqualification in court.
Ayub shared a video from the PHC alongside fellow PTI leaders and legal counsel, stating that the court had granted him time to file his appeal and that bail would be granted upon submission.
