ARY anchor, colleague granted bail

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published: 30 April 2016

Iqrarul Hassan, an anchor with ARY Television, was granted bail after being arrested for a sting operation at the Sindh Assembly. His colleague Kamran was also released, leading to celebrations among supporters.

Summary

KARACHI: A day after being arrested for entering the Sindh Assembly along with a colleague carrying a gun as part of a sting operation, ARY Television's anchor Iqrarul Hassan was granted bail by a judicial magistrate Saturday.

ARY News reported that Hassan was produced before a civil judge in two cases registered against him under PPC 452 and 188. His colleague Kamran was also released on bail. The court ordered the journalist to submit two surety bonds of Rs50,000 each.

Friday's incident that exposed poor security at the Sindh Assembly had prompted a heated debate in the House. The provincial Home Minister Sohail Anwar Siyal had ordered the arrest of all those who conducted the sting operation.

The incident led to calls for immediate release of Hassan, who gained prominence for exposing wrong-doing in the society through his program Sar-e-Aam.

Following Hassan's release, television pictures showed his fans and friends showering flower petals on him and distributing sweets in celebration.

KEY POINTS:

• Iqrarul Hassan arrested during a sting operation.
• Charged under PPC 452 and 188.
• Granted bail by a judicial magistrate.
• Incident highlighted security flaws in the Sindh Assembly.
• Public reaction included celebrations upon his release.