An anti-terrorism court in Karachi on Tuesday allowed Farhan Ghani, the brother of PPP minister Saeed Ghani, to travel to Saudi Arabia to perform Umrah.

Farhan Ghani, who is the chairman of Chanesar Town, along with other accused, appeared in the court in connection with a case for assaulting and threatening a government employee.

During the hearing, the court remarked, “If the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) was to be removed, why was it applied in the first place? If ATA wasn’t applicable, the case should have been presented directly before a magistrate.”

The defence lawyer responded by requesting the court to issue an order directing the magistrate to handle the matter.

To this, the court replied that a decision on the application would be issued in accordance with the law.

The lawyer also informed the court that his client intended to travel for Umrah.

To a court query, Farhan Ghani said he would leave tomorrow morning and would return on September 19. He also informed the court that his seat is confirmed.

The court said, “Then we will schedule the next hearing for September 20.”

However, Farhan Ghani requested the court to schedule the hearing for September 22.

The court accepted Farhan Ghani’s request and fixed the hearing for September 22.

The defence lawyer then requested that Farhan Ghani be granted an exemption from appearing at the next hearing, but the court rejected the verbal request, stating that a decision would be made on the police reports at the next hearing.

The court then adjourned the hearing until September 22.