LHC grants bail to Khadim Hussain Rizvi, orders his release

The Lahore High Court (LHC) granted on Tuesday bail to Tehreek-e-Labbaik (TLP) Pakistan chief Khadim Hussain Rizvi and Pir Afzal Qadri in a case pertaining to staging countrywide protests and making derogatory remarks against the judiciary.

During the hearing today, the bench announced the verdict which it had reserved on May 10, local media reported. The LHC accepted the bail pleas of the two leaders against surety bonds worth Rs5 million each.

Rizvi was on judicial remand granted to him by a special anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Lahore. The TLP leader was taken on protective custody on November 23 after staging violent countrywide protests.

The TLP was among the many who protested the acquittal of Asia Bibi who was sentenced to death in a blasphemy case. The TLP leader had called his workers to stage a protest at Faizabad. However, he was taken into custody two days before the protest.