KARACHI: Former provincial information minister Sharjeel Inam Memon has been given another chance to surrender before the trial court in two corruption references against him as the Sindh High Court on Wednesday granted him protective bail afresh till Jan 31.

Headed by Justice Farooq Shah, a two-judge bench gave him bail in the sum of Rs5 million in the two cases to appear before the trial court for further remedy and warned that the amount of surety would be automatically forfeited if he failed to surrender before court within the stipulated period.

The bench also made it clear that no further extension would be allowed except in exceptional circumstances.

The court further ruled that the trial court might proceed with usual proceedings in the references notwithstanding the petitioner’s absence, including declaring him a proclaimed offender and thereafter separating his case from the trial.

The PPP leader faces two corruption references, one relating to alleged award of advertisements at exorbitant rates and the other to illegal adjustment and consolidation of hundreds of acres of land in favour of a private housing project.

The petitioner’s counsel stated that the court had earlier extended his client’s bail till Dec 26 but he could not fly back home due to his ailment.

He told the judges that Mr Memon wanted to surrender before the trial court and face charges, and therefore, requested them to extend his bail.

Judgement reserved on Dr Asim’s bail plea

The Sindh High Court on Wednesday reserved judgement on the bail applications of Dr Asim Hussain, a leader of the Pakistan Peoples Party and close aide of former president Asif Zardari, in two corruption cases.

Headed by Justice Farooq Shah, a two-judge bench reserved the verdict after hearing arguments from the counsel for the PPP leader and the National Accountability Bureau.

The judgement would be pronounced on a date to be later announced by the court’s office.

Dr Asim with others has been booked for depriving the public exchequer of Rs462 million by misusing his authority to get land allotted illegally, encroaching upon state land for the expansion of his hospital, money laundering and receiving kickbacks.

Barrister Latif Khosa, appearing on behalf of Dr Asim, forwarded his arguments before the bench on medical grounds.

He also explained the ailment history of his client with reference to the reports of medical boards.

The counsel stated that out of the five accused of the reference, three had acquired bail before arrest, while the remaining two, including Dr Asim, were in custody.

He also informed the judges about the progress of the said reference and said so far only six of the 36 prosecution witnesses had appeared and recorded their statements in the trial court.

Barrister Khosa stated that Dr Asim Hussain was earlier granted bail on medical grounds by the SHC in a separate reference filed against him in an antiterrorism court.

He submitted that Dr Asim had been in custody for the last one-and-a-half years, and was now critically ill and admitted to the NICVD’s ICU.

Published in Dawn, January 19th, 2017