On the eve of Thursday’s elections in the federal capital, where candidates from various political parties were actively engaged in campaign activities, PTI candidates found themselves preoccupied with legal matters. Rather than participating in election-related events, the PTI candidates spent the entire day in courts, either securing pre-arrest bail for themselves or on behalf of their supporters.
Chief Justice Aamir Farooq of the Islamabad High Court granted pre-arrest bail to Amir Mughal, the PTI candidate from NA-46, and issued orders restraining the police from harassing him. Mughal had approached the IHC to contest the alleged harassment he was facing.
In separate court appearances, PTI candidates Shuaib Shaheen and Mohammad Ali Bukhari, contesting from NA-47 and NA-48, successfully sought the release of their supporters. Both candidates, being lawyers themselves, utilized their legal expertise to secure pre-arrest bail for their supporters, ensuring their freedom.
Simultaneously, Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir of the IHC addressed a petition regarding the arrest of PTI candidate Raja Nasir from Punjab Assembly’s constituency PP-11. Rawalpindi police had detained Mr. Nasir, who is the brother of former law minister Raja Basharat.
Expressing concern, Justice Tahir warned of potential suspension of the election in PP-11 and summoned officials from the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and Islamabad police. The Islamabad police clarified that Mr. Nasir had been arrested by Rawalpindi police. In response, the judge summoned the Chief Police Officer (CPO) of Rawalpindi and appointed an assistant inspector general as a bailiff to recover Mr. Nasir from Rawalpindi police custody.
At 11:30 pm, the assistant inspector general produced Mr. Nasir before the court. However, Mr. Nasir requested the withdrawal of the petition, stating he was no longer interested in pursuing the case. Consequently, the court dismissed the petition.
