January 09, 2008	Wednesday	Zilhaj 29, 1428

RAWALPINDI, Jan 8: The Lahore High Court (LHC) Rawalpindi Bench here on Tuesday put off the hearing of the bail plea of three men arrested in a case of alleged fraud with 58 Chinese Muslim pilgrims.

Justice Sajjad Hussain observed that a new bench would be constituted on Thursday, next date of hearing, to hear the bail pleas of the accused - Sahibzada Naeemur Rehman Naeemi, chairman Pakistan Aman Council, Allama Ayaz Zaheer Hashmi, president Ulma Mashaikh Wing of Pakistan Muslim League (PML-Q) and Adbul Shakoor.

Last year, few months before Hajj Abdul Shakoor, who is married to a Chinese woman, convinced 58 Muslims in China to come to Pakistan so that he would arrange their departure to Saudi Arabia to perform Hajj.

He in connivance with Allama Hashmi and Sahibzada Naeemi promised these Chinese Muslims to send them to Saudi Arabia on special Hajj quota with the help of religious affairs ministry.

The accused allegedly obtained $72,000 from the Chinese but abandoned them in Karachi. After registration of a case against the them on charges of human trafficking, fraud and deceit, the FIA arrested them.

The Pindi bar has been pursuing the case on behalf of the affected Chinese free of cost. Bail pleas of the accused were rejected by the district court.