ISLAMABAD: An Anti Terrorism Court (ATC) on Tuesday rejected the post-arrest bail plea filed over health grounds by the counsel of former Pakistan Peoples’ Party (PPP) Senator Faisal Raza Abidi in multiple contempt of court and cyber crime cases.
The ATC-II rejected Abidi’s bail application after examining the medical report and recommendations of Adiala Jail administration.
According to the report, the jail hospital was equipped with all the health related facilities and Abidi was being treated well over there.
In the previous hearing, the counsel of the former senator had told Judge Shahrukh Arjumand that his client was suffering from various medical issues that needed to be addressed at a better hospital.
It is worth mentioning here that Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) had booked Abidi under the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) and Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA), 2016.
According to the first information report (FIR) registered against the former Senator, Abidi had used sarcastic, derogatory and defamatory language against the chief justice of Pakistan (CJP) with criminal intent and was prima facie guilty of offences punishable under sections 10(a), 11 and 20 of PECA read with sections 109 and 509 of the PPC.
Abidi is also facing other FIRs registered at the secretariat police station under PPC’s sections 228, 500, 505(ii) and 34 along with the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) in response to a complaint lodged by SC Public Relations (PR) Officer Shahid Hussain Kambyo for using threatening language as well as leveling allegations against government institutions and individuals holding the highest constitutional posts.
The court fixed the next date of hearing for November 20. The charges would be framed against the accused during this hearing whereas, a copy of the charges and documents of evidences have been provided to Abidi’s counsel.
