A court here on Tuesday granted bail to editor Urdu daily Afaaq, Ghulam Jeelani Qadri, who was arrested by police Monday night in a 1990s case.
Chief Judicial Magistrate Srinagar Gowhar Majeed Dalalgranted the bail to Qadri after hearing his counsel -Reyaz Khawar, TasaduqKhawaja and Bashir Sidiq.
“The court granted bail in favour of Qadri and asked him toremain present before it on July 31, the next date of hearing,” advocate ReyazKhawar told Greater Kashmir.
The court, Khawar said, also directed SHO Police StationSaheed Ganj and the investigating officer of the case to remain present alongwith the case diary on July 31.
The court sought explanation from the concerned policeofficers asking them as to why the warrants were suddenly executed after 27years, Khawar said.
62-year old Qadri was arrested on Tuesday night at 11.30 pmafter he reached home from work.
Police invoked a 1990s case against eight journalists andeditors. Of the eight accused, Sofi Ghulam Muhammad of ‘Srinagar Times’ andGhulam Muhammad Aarif of ‘Daily Hamdard’ have already passed away.
Qadri through his counsel moved an application before theCJM Srinagar for seeking bail and dropping his proceedings under the relevantsection of CrPC.
While arguing the bail plea, the counsel said that policehad moved an application way back in 1990s before the court praying that theaccused by declared as proclaimed offender.
They said the charge-sheet had been produced by policewithout producing the accused and without his knowledge,” they said.
“While the court had then issued warrants under CriminalProcedure Code, the Police have suddenly executed the warrants after 27 years,”they argued.
They further pleaded that the same Police station has giventhe verification regarding the passport of the accused and his family.
They pleaded that the senior journalist had been availableat his office and home during all these years and has not violated any law.
“Challan cannot be presented in absence of the accused butcan be filed only if the accused is absconder,” they said.