A two-member bench of the Supreme Court Friday granted bail to an accused allegedly involved in distribution of hate material.
The bench ordered the accused to furnish two surety bonds of Rs 100,000 to avail the bail.
The bench comprising Justice Ijaz Ahmad Chaudhry and Justice Umar Ata Bandial heard the bail application of Amjad Ashraf, an alleged member of banned organisation, at Supreme Court Lahore Registry.
During the hearing, the defence counsel arguing before the bench submitted that the accused along with 12 others was arrested by Ghalib Market Police in a case registered under Protection of Pakistan Act, Anti-Terrorism Act and CRPC for distributing hate material in December 2014.
He said the accused was just present at the scene but he had nothing to do with distribution of hate material.
He said the police nominated the accused in case without any evidence against him.
He pleaded the court to grant the bail to the accused as he was an innocent.
However, an additional prosecutor opposed the request and presented the record of police’s investigation.
He submitted that hate material against state and armed forces was recovered from the accused.
The bench asked to submit evidence against the accused observing that if the people were arrested in baseless cases then it would create anarchy in society.
The additional prosecutor further submitted that challan had been prepared against the accused but constitution of courts under the Protection of Pakistan Act was awaited.
“As soon as, the courts are established, the challan would be presented in the court”, he added.
To a query, the investigation officer failed to justify the role of the accused in distribution of the hate material.
The bench observed that the police arrested twelve people but in investigation, it did not mention the role of each accused in distribution of the material.
The bench while granting the bail to the petitioner asked him to furnish two surety bonds of Rs 100,000.