News Desk |
The Punjab government has challenged Lahore High Court (LHC)’s decision to grant bail to Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) Chief Khadim Hussain Rizvi before the Supreme Court.
TLP chief was booked for launching violent protests against the acquittal of Aasia Bibi last year. He was granted bail in May this year.
In the appeal, the provincial government has argued that the high court “did not fulfill legal requirements” in its decision to grant bail. While urging the court to nullify the high court’s decision, the petition said that there was enough evidence against the TLP chief.
Rizvi and Qadri were taken into “protective custody” by the state during a crackdown in November 2018 after the TLP announced it would observe martyrs’ day on Nov 25, 2018.
The appeal was submitted in the Supreme Court Registrar’s Office and will be heard in the Lahore registry by a two-member bench headed by Justice Manzoor Ahmed Malik on July 18.
Case Background
Rizvi and TLP patron-in-chief Pir Afzal Qadri — who is also nominated in the same case — were granted bail in May this year. Qadri’s bail expired on July 15 but was extended on medical grounds.
Qadri, who had been booked under sedition and terrorism charges, had resigned from the TLP on May 1, citing health issues and, on the court’s earlier directions, issued a public apology for his remarks.
Rizvi and Qadri were taken into “protective custody” by the state during a crackdown in November 2018 after the TLP announced it would observe martyrs’ day on Nov 25, 2018.
Read more: Will Khadim Hussain Rizvi be granted bail?
Civil Lines police had registered the FIR under Sections 290, 291, 353, 427, 186 and 188 of Pakistan Penal Code (PPC), Section 6 of the Sound System Punjab Ordinance 2015 and Section 7 of Anti-Terrorism Act 1997 after the TLP leaders led violent protests against the acquittal of Aasia Bibi in a concocted blasphemy case.