LHC approves bail of missing Shia Journalist

Shiite News: The Lahore High Court (LHC) ordered the release of Zahid Abbas Malik, a Shia journalist belonging to the daily Dunya Lahore.

Zahid Abbas Malik was disappeared from his flat in Ichhra, Lahore in May, Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) later claimed to have arrested him from Mianwali.

It was alleged by the CTD that Zahid Abbas belonged to the outlawed Sipah-e-Muhammad and Zahid Abbas was collecting donations and distributing hate literature for the organization in Mianwali, after which he was detained.

However, the family of Zahid Abbas Malik was of the opinion that Zahid Abbas Malik is a senior journalist and has nothing to do with any banned party.

A two-member bench of the LHC held a hearing on Tuesday, Justice Muhammad Amjad Rafique and Justice Ali Zia Bajwa were included in the bench.

Lawyer Badr-ul-Zaman Qureshi took a stand that how a journalist can be a member of a banned party, or how a person in Lahore can distribute literature in Mianwali ?

While Zahid Abbas Malik was arrested from Lahore, but in the FIR, his arrest was placed from Mianwali. Lawyer said that a baseless case has been established, which is based on lies.

The court, agreeing with the arguments of the lawyer, ordered the release of Zahid Abbas Malik.