The Peshawar High Court granted an extension of interim pre-arrest bail to Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf MNA Sher Afzal Khan Marwat on Wednesday, preventing his arrest in 11 criminal cases filed against him across the province. The bench, comprising Justice Syed Arshad Ali and Justice Naeem Anwar, once again requested the provincial government’s response to Marwat’s petitions seeking the dismissal of the cases. The schedule for the next hearing will be announced later.
During the hearing of the 11 petitions filed by Marwat, he argued for the dismissal of FIRs registered against him for allegedly violating standard operating procedures during party workers’ conventions. Marwat claimed that these cases were part of government victimization against PTI leaders and emphasized that holding and addressing peaceful conventions was his constitutional right, not a crime. He criticized the government for targeting PTI activists instead of providing a level playing field for all political parties during the February 8 general elections.
Marwat also condemned the recent attack on PTI spokesperson Rauf Hassan in Islamabad, viewing it as a threat to PTI leaders who openly challenge the establishment and rival parties in the media. Despite such attacks, Marwat asserted that PTI activists would not be intimidated. Regarding his alleged differences with party leaders, Marwat clarified that he remained loyal to Imran Khan and would continue to follow his directives. He expressed frustration over the treatment he had received, particularly the de-notification of his brother and the issuance of a show-cause notice against him, which he perceived as attempts to undermine his position.
