‘Missing’ Asad Umar appears in court, denies arrest by FIA, gets bail in cipher case

The ‘missing’ former federal minister, Asad Umar, has appeared on the scene denying the news of his arrest by the Federal Investigation Agency a couple of days ago, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

Former PTI leader Asad Umar on Tuesday came to an Islamabad court to file a petition seeking his pre-arrest bail in the cipher case.

Talking to the media, Umar said that the news regarding his arrest by the FIA was false as he wasn’t detained by the agency. He said he came to the court today to get his pre-arrest bail in the cipher case.

It was widely reported in the media that Asad Umar was arrested by the FIA in connection with the cipher investigation. A day earlier, former foreign minister and PTI Vice President Shah Mehmood Qureshi was arrested by the FIA in the same case registered under the Official Secrets Act.

PTI Chairman Imran Khan, who is serving three years imprisonment in the Attock Jail in Toshakhana case, was also booked in the cipher case under the same Act.

When asked about the Attock Jail condition where Imran has been kept, Umar said that a judge visited the prison facility and compiled a report which reveals appalling conditions at the facility.

Asad Umar gets bail in cipher case

Official Secrets Act Court on Tuesday accepted Asad Umar’s pre-arrest bail plea in cipher case.

The court approved former federal minister’s bail until August 29 and directed him to submit surety bonds of Rs100,000.

Asad Umar filed the plea through Babar Awan and Sardar Masroof, praying the court that the cipher case against him was politically motivated and was an attempt to harass and blackmail him.

He urged the court to accept his bail plea as he is ready to join the investigation.

Judge Abul Hasnat Zulqarnain after hearing the arguments granted bail to Asad Umar.

ATC extends bail in terror case until Oct 12

An anti-terrorism court in Islamabad on Tuesday extended Asad Umar’s bail to October 12 in a case registered at Sangjani police station.

Asad Umar appeared in court along with his lawyer Babar Awan and ATC Judge Abul Hasnat granted him the extension.

 

Reporter Farzana Siddique