LAHORE: The Lahore High Court on Wednesday granted bail to former vice chancellor of Punjab University Prof Dr Mujahid Kamran and three others in a case of illegal appointments.

A two-judge bench headed by Justice Ali Baqar Najafi allowed the bails to the five petitioners and directed each of them to deposit two surety bonds of Rs500,000 each.

The other petitioners include former registrar Prof Dr Liaqat Ali and two additional registrars Prof Dr Aurangzaib Alamgir and Prof Dr Kamran Abid.

During the proceedings on the bail petitions, the bench also reprimanded the officials of the NAB for handcuffing the professors at the time of their appearance before the trial court.

However, a NAB prosecutor told the bench that the bureau had already tendered an apology before the Supreme Court in this regard.

Meanwhile, lawyers of the petitioners argued that the allegations against their clients were baseless. They said all the appointments in the Punjab University had been made strictly in accordance with law and due approval of the syndicate. They pointed out that a sitting judge of the LHC and a Punjab Assembly’s member were permanent part of the syndicate. Therefore, there could be no possibility of any illegal act in the university, they added. The lawyers asked the court to release their clients on bail.

The NAB prosecutor opposed the bail petitions, however, failed to give satisfactory answers to queries of the bench.

After hearing both sides, the bench granted bail to the petitioners and issued their release orders.

Prof Dr Kamran, in his bail petition, had pleaded that he achieved a high distinction in the field of physics and was honoured with Sitara-i-Imtiaz over rendering services in education sector. He said he devoted his life to prepare great minds for the best future of the country.

Published in Dawn, November 8th, 2018