LAHORE: A sessions court on Friday granted pre-arrest bail to columnist Ayaz Amir in two similar cases of spreading `alleged` rape story of a private girls college student which incited students and general public to hold violent protests across Punjab.

Mr Amir appeared before the court along with his counsel, Azhar Siddique.

The counsel argued that false cases had been registered against his client only on political consideration.

He said the petitioner wanted to prove his innocence by joining the investigation of the cases.He asked the court to allow pre-arrest bail to the columnist.

Additional District and Sessions Judge Suleman Ghumman allowed the bail to the petitioner till Nov 4 in both cases subject to furnishing surety bonds of Rs50,000 each.

`The petitioner will join the investigation forthwith failing which concession of pre-arrest bail shall be deemed to have been withdrawn,` the judge wrote in his order.

The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and the Defence-A police registered two separate cases against the columnist and others for offences under the Prevention of Electronic Crime Act 2016 and Pakistan Penal Code.