ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday granted bail to former prime minister Imran Khan’s aide, senator Azam Swati, who had been arrested last year for some controversial tweets he posted against Pakistan’s ex-army chief.
Swati was arrested by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) in Islamabad on November 27 for the second time in less than two months for his remarks at a rally and strongly worded tweets about military officials, including Bajwa.
The senator was booked under Section 20 of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act 2016, which deals with offenses against the dignity of a person. Separately, he was nominated in multiple complaints filed with police in Pakistan’s Balochistan and Sindh provinces for using “derogatory language” and “provoking the people against the army.”
Swati approached a special court in Islamabad for bail earlier this month but his plea was dismissed The senator then filed a post-arrest bail petition in the IHC. According to Pakistani newspaper Dawn, IHC chief Justice Aamir Farooq chaired proceedings of the petition filed by Swati on Monday.
During the hearing, Justice Farooq asked the FIA lawyer to present his stance, Dawn reported. In response, the FIA lawyer said the special prosecutor in the case was not present and hence requested the court to adjourn proceedings. The request was denied by the judge, the publication added.
“During the hearing today, IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq resumed hearing the PTI senator’s petition and barred the FIA from arresting him,” Dawn stated. “The court approved Swati’s bail against the submission of surety bonds worth Rs200,000.”
Former prime minister Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party hailed the court’s decision.
“The year 2023 has had a great start due to this decision,” PTI’s senator Faisal Javed Khan told reporters outside the court. “Senator Azam Swati has gone through an extremely difficult phase,” he said, adding that the lawmaker’s struggle would not go in vain.
