Ali Wazir released from Sukkur prison after Sindh High Court grants bail in sedition case

KARACHI: Former Member of the National Assembly Ali Wazir, affiliated with the outlawed Pashtun Tahaffuz Movement (PTM), has been released from Sukkur prison following the grant of bail by the Sindh High Court (SHC) in a sedition case, it emerged on Monday.

The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) welcomed Wazir's release, highlighting that his prolonged detention despite repeated court orders had raised significant concerns regarding due process and personal liberty.

On Saturday, a constitutional bench of the SHC in Hyderabad granted bail to Wazir in a case registered against him under Sections 123-A and 124-A of the Pakistan Penal Code, which pertain to condemnation of the creation of the State and advocacy of abolition of its sovereignty, as well as sedition. The case also included Sections 6 and 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997. The charges were filed at the Nawabshah Airport police station last year.

Wazir, through his legal counsel, had petitioned the court for his release. After hearing arguments from both sides, the bench—comprising Justice Arbab Ali Hakro and Justice Riazat Ali Sahar—approved his bail.

The HRCP, in its statement, noted, "His prolonged incarceration despite repeated court orders had raised serious concerns about due process and personal liberty."

Ali Wazir has faced multiple legal challenges in recent years, with his supporters and human rights groups frequently raising concerns about the nature and duration of his detentions. The latest development marks a significant moment in his ongoing legal battles.

Further details regarding the conditions of his release or future legal proceedings have not been provided in the available reports.