An anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Karachi granted bail to 104 aides of estranged Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader Zulfiqar Mirza in a single case till May 19.
Mirza reached the court Saturday and tried to enter courtroom with his aides on which the police stopped him and told him to enter courtroom in a group of five.
Following the hearing, the court accepted the bail plea and directed each suspect to submit surety bond of Rs 100,000.
Feroz Shahani, Mukhtar Patafi, Asgar Gujjar, Mumtaz including 21 suspects were bailed in the first session whereas bail of 46 suspects in the second and 37 suspects in the third session was approved.
Separately, court of district and sessions judge Badin Ghulam Rasool granted interim bail to Mirza and his associates in the sum of Rs 50,000 each till May 23 in 7 cases registered against them in different police stations.
The court ordered for presenting police paper in respect of cases registered against them in police stations Badin, Karryo Ghanore, Hangrio and Tundo Bago before it on May 23.
MIRZA SPEAKS:
Talking to reporters after securing bail, Mirza said, “I am proud that I am an agent of ISI and Pakistan Army while Asif Ali Zardari and Altaf Hussain are agents of RAW.”
According to a private news channel, firebrand Mirza made a demand of dismissing and arresting Sindh governor over allegations levelled against him by the executed hit-man Saulat Mirza about facilitation of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) workers in jails. He also made a demand to put the governor’s name in Exit Control List to prevent him from leaving the country.
PROTEST IN DADU AGAINST MIRZA:
In the meanwhile, PPP activists staged a protest rally on Saturday against Mirza, marching from the residence of MPA Pir Mujeeb to Dadu Press Club.
The rally was led by PPP’s Taluka Dadu President Saifullah Panhwar, and other leaders Nawaz Solangi, Najeebullah Pahnwar, Gul Mehran Dawich and Altaf Samoo also attended it.
The protesters carried banners and placards in their hands and shouted slogans against Dr Mirza.
The protesters demanded from the government to arrest Dr Mirza for using harsh language against the PPP leaders.