ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Wednesday ordered evaluation of the property of Haj corruption convict Rao Shakeel as he desired to pledge it with the court against Rs150million fine to secure his release.

The IHC bench directed the authorities concerned to see whether its value is equal to the fine amount.

Adiala jail officials had submitted before the IHC chief justice that the two Hajj corruption convicts, Rao Shakeel and Aftabul Islam Raja, had completed their six-year imprisonment, and they are in jail due to non-payment of fine.

Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kiani ordered pledging the property as according to the petitioner the IHC registrar office had refused to accept his property situated in Lahore as a surety bond and they asked the petitioner to submit some property located in Islamabad.

Both Aftabul Islam and Rao Shakeel had to pay approximately Rs150million each as fine.

The two convicts have challenged their sentences awarded to them by the court of special judge central on June 3, besides seeking release with a plea that they have completed their sentence and they may be released.

In the matter of Rao Shakeel, the IHC Chief Justice had directed him to deposit surety equivalent to the value of the fine. Rao Shakeel then offered his Lahore property which the IHC office refused to accept.

However, Justice Kiani on Wednesday directed the office concerned to evaluate Rao Shakeel’s property and if it is equal to the value of the fine amount, it may be accepted as surety bond.

Published in Dawn, July 28th, 2016