FAISALABAD, Oct 4: Judicial Magistrate Mohsin Rasheed on Saturday rejected the bail application of the National Highway Authority general-manager (motorway).

The court sent the accused, Muhammad Aurangzeb, to jail on a 14-day judicial remand.

Mr Aurangzeb was arrested by the Civil Lines police at a meeting on Wednesday night allegedly for using filthy language and chastising the officials of the armed forces and intelligence agencies under the influence. The meeting was arranged at the circuit house to review preparations for President Gen Pervez Musharraf’s visit to inaugurate the M-3. However, he was granted an interim bail after his arrest.

The judicial magistrate heard arguments from the prosecution and the accused’s counsel after which he rejected the bail application, observing that the accused had been granted interim bail for two days on the plea that he was bound to attend the inauguration of the project.

During the hearing, the accused failed to satisfy the court and his bail could not be confirmed.

His counsel argued that the NHA official was entitled to bail in this case in the light of the orders of the superior courts. He also argued that the allegation that he (Aurangzeb) was under the influence could not be established till the final chemical analysis. The laboratory’s report was still awaited, he said, adding the prosecution was bound to furnish the court with it.

The accused’s counsel said Mr Aurangzeb was a senior officer, who, by getting the bail concession from the court, could neither affect the process of investigation nor his liberty was a danger to any person in any manner.