The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday issued notices to parties in petition filed by Awami Muslim League (AML) chief Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed seeking post-arrest bail in a case pertaining to murder plot allegations against former president Asif Ali Zardari. IHC Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani heart the petition while Advocate Salman Akram Raja represented for former interior minister in the case. Mr Raja requested the court to fix an early date for next hearing, saying the petitioner is an old man. The court issued notices to the Islamabad police and complainant in the case and sought replies till Feb 16 when the bail petition will be taken up again. On Feb 10, Mr Ahmed had filed a bail plea in the high court after a judicial magistrate and the district and sessions court rejected the same.

Mr Ahmed argued the case registered against him was politically-motivated. He said the case was registered on a complaint by a third party. The Islamabad police had arrested the former interior minister on Feb 2 after a case was registered at the Aabpara police station against him for accusing the PPP co-chairman of hatching a plot to assassinate PTI Chairman Imran Khan. Following his arrest, a court approved his two-day physical remand and later he was sent on the judicial remand for 14 days.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan-INP