PTM lawmaker Wazir gets bail in hate speech case

PESHAWAR (Pajhwok): Pakistan’s top court has granted bail to Pashtun Tahaffuz Movement (PTM) leader Ali Wazir in a hate speech case.

Pakistan’s Apex Court accepted on Tuesday the bail application of Wazir, who is also a member of the National Assembly, against a surety bond of Rs400,000 and ordered his release.

Wazir had been arrested in Peshawar on Dec 16, 2020, on charges of hate speech against state institutions while addressing a rally in Karachi on Dec 6.

The court observed the co-accused in the case had already been granted bail and thus there was no justification for one person being kept in custody.

A three-member bench hearing the case noted the applicant was kept behind bars and a charge framed against him. But no evidence had been brought against him,

Salahuddin Gandapur, counsel for the accused, prayed the bench the case was registered against Wazir on the basis of a speech that he made in Pashto.

However, the counsel pointed out, the case was registered against him on a complaint of one Sindhi and one Punjabi, who did not know Pashto.

But the lawmaker could not be released immediately as there are other cases pending against him, in which he has not been granted bail.

Meanwhile, PTM leader Manzoor Pashteen said there was another case against Wazir in the SHC and other supporters of the group were in jail on false charges as well.

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