ISLAMABAD: Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Thursday restrained Islamabad police from arresting former National Assembly speaker Asad Qaiser and former minister Hammad Azhar over first information reports (FIRs) registered against them in connection with violence carried out in the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) long march on May 25.

       Mr Azhar had sought protective bail, while Mr Qaiser had sought details of cases registered against him in various police stations.

       IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah granted protective bail to him against surety bonds amounting to Rs5,000.

       The court granted him protective bail for 11 days and directed Azhar to appear before the court of the competent jurisdiction within this period. As per the court order, the protective bail would lapse after 11 days.

       Meanwhile, the court also issued a notice to the secretary (interior) on Qaiser’s petition and directed him to share details of the cases registered against him in the capital, provinces and with the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA).

       Further hearing in this matter has been adjourned till a fortnight.

       Published in Dawn, June 3rd, 2022