July 07, 2007	Saturday	Jamadi-us-Sani 21, 1428

HYDERABAD, July 6: Justice Zia Pervaiz of the Sindh High Court, Hyderabad-circuit bench, on Friday rejected a bail application of the principal accused in the kidnapping case of Manu Bheel’s nine family members.

The pre-arrest bail of the accused, Abdul Rehman Mari, was cancelled on April 25 last year. The bail was granted to him by the sessions judge Mirpurkhas on Sept 27, 2004.

Rehman was arrested in August last year and admitted to the Civil Hospital Hyderabad for hepatitis.

His counsel Allah Bachayo Soomro filed his second application on medical grounds. Manu Bheel’s lawyer Aslam Rana opposed the bail application.

The applicant’s counsel argued that Rehman was a hypertension patient and his health deteriorated in the lockup for want of proper medicines.The accused had surrendered to police on July 18 last year after the attachment of his 1,600 acres of agricultural land and his custody was handed over to the investigating officer.

The Supreme Court had taken a suo motu notice of the case in April last year and directed officials of the Sindh police to ensure Rehman’s arrest.

Allah Bachayo said that two more accused in the kidnapping case -- Soho Khaskheli and Natho Bheel –- had been granted bail, while four others, Sher Khan, Sheral Chandio, Azam, Kazi Jabbar and the accused (Rehman) shown as absconders in the challan submitted under section 344 CrPC.

The counsel for Manu Bheel contended that if the accused was granted bail he would again flee the country and the recovery of detainees would be impossible. He said the accused had previously taken undue advantage of concession of bail and fled abroad.

He also disputed defence counsel’s arguments that his client needed treatment.

His bail application has been rejected by the Sindh High Court after the additional advocate-general sought the rejection under the Supreme Court’s orders.