ISLAMABAD, Dec 24: Admiral (retd) Masurul Haq, under detention at Sihala police rest house, is likely to be released within a few days after payment of US$7.5 million, official sources said.

His release is expected as his plea-bargain application has been accepted by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), under which he will have to pay the first instalment of $5.5 million, the source said.

The accused, who had been maintaining accounts in the United States, has promised to transfer the money within a few days.

He will be released as soon as the first instalment is received at the NAB’s official account.

The remaining amount, under the terms and conditions negotiated by the former naval chief in the plea-bargain, will be payable within a year.

The NAB has incorporated a provision in the plea-bargain that if any more assets of Mr Haq are revealed in future, these will also be forfeited by the government.

The former naval chief, soon after his extradition from the United States, had offered to pay over $3 million which was turned down by the National Accountability Bureau.

Mr Haq, accused of bagging millions of dollars as commission in a defence deal, had opted to return voluntarily from the United States where he was facing an extradition proceedings.

A NAB official confirmed that Air Marshal (retd) Waqar Azeem had also been released after his sentence was remitted by President Gen Pervez Musharraf exercising his constitutional powers.

Mr Azeem was awarded seven years imprisonment in a loan-default case in 2000.