IHC extends Shehbaz Gill’s protective bail till May 9

ISLAMABAD (92 News) - The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Friday extended the protective bail of PTI leader Shehbaz Gill till May 9 in the blasphemy cases.

He appeared before the court in an injured condition. During the hearing, Shehbaz Gill told Chief Justice Athar Minallah that he was the first person to be attacked at the end of the government. "Maryam Nawaz had stated that they should be crushed. I don't know whether I will be present at the next hearing or not.”

The chief justice remarked that no, no, there was no such thing. "It is not political. We look into the of legal matters only. Shehbaz Sahib, I do not know whether the Movement for Restoration Judiciary was successful or not. The purpose of the the movement was to ensure that all institutions should function under the constitution. We welcome criticism but if the constitution and institutions are not respected then there will be chaos.”

He said that if everything is to run on a political narrative, it will end in chaos. “Everyone should ask themselves whether we have achieved the objectives of the Lawyers Movement. Political parties streamline the public opinion. Political leaders have a big role to play. Everyone should think, may Allah Almighty heal you soon.”

On the other hand, Justice Abdul Aziz Chaudhry of the Lahore High Court Rawalpindi Bench accepted the pre-arrest bail application of former Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed and restrained the administration from arresting him till May 18. The court also issued notices to the parties for dismissal of the cases.