KARACHI, April 6: The Provincial Anti-Corruption Court in Karachi on Wednesday granted bail to estate agent Abdul Hafeez Shoro in two corruption cases and ordered his release on furnishing surety of Rs200,000 each. He was facing corruption charges, with other revenue department officials. Contending the plea, defence counsel Nadeem Shahzad Hashmi submitted that the applicant had nothing to do with the offence in which he is charged with. He said his client was not a government servant and was implicated in the case due to enmity.

It was submitted that no direct allegation was framed against the applicant by the police, nor there was any documentary evidence. The statement of witness Sabir Rajput before the magistrate was also questioned in the bail application.

Defence counsel also raised objection regarding confessional statement of the applicant, recorded after his recovery from bathroom of the Anti-Corruption Establishment by the judicial magistrate in a raid on Feb 25.

State counsel Sarwar Khan vehemently oppossing the bail application argued that the case was in initial stage and statements of witnesses have been recorded. He pleaded court to dismiss the bail application.

Announcing order on Wednesday, the ACC, headed by Judge Arjan Ram Tareja ordered the release of Mr. Shoro in two cases on a surety of Rs200,000 each.—PPI