Shahbaz Gill's comments 'reckless', 'not expected', IHC rules in bail case.

ISLAMABAD -- PTI leader Shahbaz Gill's comments against state institutions were "reckless" and "not expected" from a person who is a party's spokesperson and claims to be an academic, the Islamabad High Court said on Friday.

The high court's chief justice, Athar Minallah, granted post-arrest bail to the PTI leader on Thursday and ordered his release against surety bonds of Rs500,000.

The PTI leader is facing sedition charges for allegedly inciting mutiny within the armed forces during an interview with a TV channel in August.

In a written order issued today, the IHC stated that during the investigation, no incriminating material could be gathered to indicate that before or after making the statements, the petitioner had contacted any officer or other members of the armed forces with the intent to abet or attempt to cause incitement.

The order said that the statements made by the PTI leader were indeed "reckless" and reflect a lack of appreciation of the scheme of the Constitution of Pakistan.

'Such reckless statements were not expected from a person who claims to be an academician and is held out as a spokesman of a political party,' read the order.

Nonetheless, the IHC said, the trial court was satisfied that except for the offence described under section 131 of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC), the other offences mentioned in the FIR were, prima facie, "not attracted".

It added that the prosecution has also not brought on record any material to show that a complaint was received from or on behalf of the Armed Forces.

'The discipline of the armed forces is indeed not frail nor weak to be affected or influenced by...