Peshawar/Rawalpindi; Amid an escalating crackdown on Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leadership, the Peshawar High Court (PHC) on Friday granted protective bail to PTI General Secretary Suleman Akram Raja and directed authorities not to arrest him for two weeks. The court also sought details of all pending cases against him.
The relief came as law enforcement agencies intensified efforts to arrest senior PTI figures in connection with cases related to the November 26 protest. Rawalpindi police have formed special teams to enforce non-bailable arrest warrants issued by Anti-Terrorism Courts (ATCs) against 65 party leaders and activists.
A division bench of PHC, comprising Justice Ejaz Anwar and Justice Dr Khurshid Iqbal, heard Raja’s plea, in which he argued that multiple cases had been registered against him despite his regular court appearances. The court granted interim bail and sought a detailed report of the cases from authorities.
Meanwhile, police in Rawalpindi began conducting raids to arrest former president Arif Alvi, KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, Aleema Khan, Omar Ayub, and several others.
According to police sources, the warrants were issued due to the accused repeatedly avoiding arrest. Arrest warrants include 28 in Sadiqabad, 18 in Wah Cantt, and 19 in Nasirabad protest-related cases. All those apprehended will be produced in court.
