IHC gives bail to Faisal Raza Abidi in contempt case

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) granted on Thursday former Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) senator Faisal Raza Abidi bail in a contempt of court case.

During the hearing, the high court was submitted Abidi's medical reports which stated that he was suffering from several illnesses.  Following this, the PPP senator was granted bail by the IHC on the submission of a Rs 100,000 surety. Abidi has been shifted to a hospital.

On Wednesday, a three-member bench of the Supreme Court (SC) headed by Justice Sheikh Azmat Saeed had accepted Abidi's unconditional apology and closed the contempt case against him. His written apology read, "I (Raza Abidi) has no logic, reason or argument to defend my uncalled for conduct and remarks against the Chief Justice of Pakistan; therefore, I tender unconditional apology and beg forgiveness from the apex court and promise that in future I will not repeat the grievous mistake."

However, the SC had announced that this judgment will not affect the remaining cases pending against the PPP leader and that the cases would be heard in their respective courts. An anti-terrorism court has already indicted Abidi for using defamatory language against the judiciary.