Raoof Hasan, the Information Secretary of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), has been released from Adiala Jail after securing bail from an anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Islamabad. Hasan’s release comes after the ATC approved his bail plea in a case related to alleged terror financing.
Judge Tahir Abbas Sipra of the ATC issued a mandamus (robkar) for Hasan’s release following the approval of his bail petition. Hasan’s bail was granted against surety bonds worth Rs200,000. His lawyers, Shaista Khosa and Raja Yasir Rauf, were present to receive him outside the Rawalpindi prison.
Hasan’s bail plea was considered after he had been on a 14-day judicial remand at Adiala Jail, as ordered on August 3. The PTI leader had been taken into custody on July 22 by Islamabad Police and later handed over to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA). Initially not named in the terrorism FIR, Hasan was arrested based on a statement by co-accused Ahmed Waqas Janjua, who alleged that Hasan provided Rs300,000 to fund terrorist activities.
During court hearing, Raoof Hasan was represented by lawyers Ali Bukhari and Ali Zafar, while Prosecutor Raja Naveed was also present. Bukhari argued that Hasan was not originally named in the case and was only included based on Janjua’s statement. He contended that Hasan’s arrest and subsequent charges lacked concrete evidence directly linking him to the crime.
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Prosecutor Naveed, however, argued that Hasan was named in the case after Janjua’s statement and claimed that Hasan was involved in providing funds for explosives. Naveed requested that the court reject Hasan’s bail petition, citing the severity of the charges and the non-bailable nature of the provisions against Hasan.
Judge Sipra questioned the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) investigating officer about the status of other suspects, specifically whether the third suspect had been arrested. The officer confirmed that the third accused had not yet been apprehended.
PTI leader Ali Zafar criticized the timing of the case, suggesting it was politically motivated. He and other PTI members argued that Hasan’s arrest was an attempt to undermine the party and exact political revenge.
Following his release on bail, Hasan faces ongoing scrutiny, with the case against him continuing to unfold. The controversy surrounding his arrest highlights ongoing tensions and legal battles within Pakistani politics.
