MNA Jamshed Dasti pictured in Multan Central Jail on June 9, 2017. 

DERA GHAZI KHAN: An Anti-Terrorism Court on Friday approved Member of National Assembly (MNA) from Muzaffargarh's NA-178 constituency Jamshed Ahmed Dasti?s request for bail.

Dasti and Meharpur Union Council (UC) Chairman Malik Ajmal were arrested on June 9 by the Punjab Police for forcibly opening a canal in Muzaffargarh on May 28, following which the irrigation department lodged a case against the MNA.

The two men were presented in the duty magistrate?s court on June 9, following which they were shifted to Central Jail Multan on judicial remand.

On June 10, opposition leader Khursheed Shah requested the National Assembly speaker to issue a production order for Dasti, so he could attend the budget session.

Barred from meeting Dasti

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's Shah Mehmood Qureshi was stopped from meeting Dasti on his visit to Central Jail Multan to meet the MNA on June 10.

While talking to the media, Qureshi said he had gone to the jail on the orders of the National Assembly speaker to get the release letter signed from Dasti.

He said his party and its chief condemned Dasti's arrest and wanted him to be released.

Awami Raaj Party stages protest against arrest 

The MNA's Awami Raaj Party workers staged a protest against Dasti's arrest at Kumharan Wala Chowk in Multan on June 10. 

Protesting workers chanted slogans against the government and said Dasti was being punished for helping the poor farmers. They said he opened the canal to irrigate the farmers' lands.

The protesters warned the government to release the MNA within 24 hours or they would expand their demonstration.