KARACHI, Jan 15: A division bench of the High Court of Sindh admitted on Wednesday an applicant, Mohammed Shafi alias Shah Mohammed, accused in a drug case, to bail against a surety of Rs300,000.

The bench comprised Justice Shabbir Ahmed and Justice Azizullah Memon.

The accused was booked after 40kg charas were recovered from his possession. He was facing trial before the Special Court for Control of Narcotics Substances.

According to the applicant, the District and Sessions Judge South granted him bail against a surety of Rs75,000 in August 1998. He failed to attend the special court on 25-9-2002 at which the trial court cancelled his bail and issued a non-bailable warrant of arrest against him.

The applicant further maintained that trial court considered the quantum of drug while declining bail to him, and the applicant/accused plea for condonation of absence was rejected.

When the bail plea came up, prosecutor for the Anti-narcotics Force on a query by the bench conceded that the trial court should have considered the “factum of absence” of the applicant/accused.

The High Court admitted the accused to bail against a solvent surety of Rs300,000 and personal bond in the like amount. — APP