News @ 3 - 3rd July 2017

SARGODHA: Awami Raj Party MNA Jamshed Ahmed Dasti is likely to walk free today as an anti-terrorism court granted him bail in what is believed to be the last case pertaining to hate speech, ARY News reported.

The court directed Dasti to furnish a surety of Rs 100,000. He was booked in five cases, of which he had already been granted bail in four.

The imprisoned lawmaker was brought to the court under tight security. A large number of his supporters and civil society members had gathered in the court premises to show solidarity with Dasti who had recently complained of being treated inhumanly in prison.

The MNA was arrested on June 09 for forcibly opening the sluice gate at a canal to release irrigation water to Dinga minor.

On June 23 the anti-terrorism court had granted him bail in another case. Before he could be released from prison he was arrested in yet another case.

He was initially arrested in a case registered by the Karamdad Qureshi police under sections 353, 430, 148, 149 and 186 of the Pakistan Penal Code on an application submitted by the Kot Addu irrigation sub-division officer.

It was alleged in the complaint that the MNA had forcibly released water into the Dinga canal and when irrigation officials informed him that it was closed following court orders he threatened them with dire consequences.