A Pakistani court granted bail on Saturday to Hashim Abbasi, who is accused of killing three Punjab Rangers personnel before a Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) protest in November. The court ruled that the prosecution failed to provide sufficient evidence linking him to the crime.
An Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Islamabad approved Abbasi’s post-arrest bail on a surety bond of PKR 50,000. Judge Abul Hasnaat Zulqarnain, in a three-page order, stated that Abbasi was not named in the initial First Information Report (FIR) and that his case required further inquiry.
According to the FIR, former Prime Minister Imran Khan allegedly instructed his wife Bushra Bibi, his sister Aleema Khan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister and PTI leader Ali Amin Gandapur, party workers, and lawyers to secure his release from jail “by any means necessary,” including violence. The FIR cited undercover police officials and prisoners as witnesses, though their identities have not been disclosed.
The case stems from an incident on the early morning of Nov. 26, when Abbasi was allegedly driving an SUV that ran over three Rangers personnel.
The FIR (No. 974/24) accuses PTI leadership, including Khan and Bushra Bibi, of inciting violence. It was registered on the complaint of a Punjab Rangers official.
After the incident, Abbasi fled the scene but was later arrested following a 15-minute chase. He was subjected to an identification parade, where eyewitnesses identified him as the driver. Police then formally nominated him in the FIR.
Despite this, sources familiar with the investigation said police have not yet established a direct link between Abbasi and PTI. The case’s charge sheet has not been submitted to the court.
Abbasi’s political connections
Abbasi, 25, belongs to an influential political family. His paternal grandfather, Raja Shahid Zafar, served twice as a member of the National Assembly in the 1980s, while his maternal grandfather, Zafeer Abbasi, was a former additional secretary in the Interior Ministry.
The deaths of the Rangers personnel prompted strong reactions from top state officials. Chief of Army Staff Gen. Syed Asim Munir, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and other dignitaries attended the funeral. Shehbaz condemned the violence, stating, “Pakistan cannot afford any chaos and bloodshed for achieving vested political purposes.”
Pakistan's Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Asim Munir and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif carry the coffin of a paramilitary soldier who was killed during clashes between security forces and protesters who were demanding the release of former Prime Minister Imran Khan in Islamabad, at Chaklala Garrison in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, November 26, 2024.
Reuters
During the bail hearing, Abbasi’s lawyer argued that his client was falsely implicated, had no criminal record, and was being framed. The prosecution opposed the bail, citing the severity of the crime and the fact that witnesses had identified him.
However, Judge Zulqarnain noted in his order that the prosecution failed to present any compelling reason to deny bail. “Tentative assessment of the record transpires the accused/petitioner is not nominated in the FIR,” the order stated.
It added that there was no indication Abbasi would obstruct justice or violate bail conditions.
Abbasi’s release is subject to furnishing bail bonds of PKR 50,000 with a single surety to the satisfaction of the court.
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