PESHAWAR, Sept 19: The Peshawar High Court on Friday granted bail to a PML-N MPA, Malik Imran.

PHC Judge Mr Justice Ijaz Afzal directed the government to release Mr Imran after the latter paid two sureties of Rs300,000 each.

The district and sessions judge Lakki Marwat had ordered the arrest of Malik Imran on Sept 5 in connection with a murder that took place on Aug 28, 2002, in the jurisdiction of Paizzo police station.

The complainant Haji Said Rasool stated in the FIR that he was with his two relatives, Shahabuddin and Noor Aslam, when two accused, Rafiullah and Saifur Rehman started firing at them with Kalashnikovs.

He stated the two attackers had earlier rushed towards the residence of Malik Imran and later on shooting began from that direction, resulting in the killing of Noor Aslam.

In his supplementary statement, the complainant accused Malik Imran of being involved in the incident, saying that he was seen escaping from the scene in a Pajero jeep by two persons.

The investigation officer after conducting the inquiry declared Malik Imran innocent and placed his name in column 2 of the challan. Initially, the applicant had applied for bail before arrest, but after removal of his name from the list of those who were accused, he withdrew the application.

On Sept 5 the district and sessions judge took up for hearing the case and ordered that as Malik Imran was charged in the case, he should be arrested.

Advocate Qazi Muhammad Anwer appeared for the applicant and argued that he was not charged in the FIR and his name was mentioned in the supplementary statement.