KARACHI, Aug 21: The Sindh High Court on Monday extended interim protective bail of sacked provincial revenue minister Imtiaz Ahmed Sheikh in a kidnapping for ransom case till October 2.

Imtiaz Sheikh, a central leader of Pakistan Muslim League, is one of the co-accused in the case, the other being Agha Asghar, Nasir Mehmood, Mehmood Zakir and Mohammad Ashfaq.

The case pertains to the kidnapping of one, Umer Iqbal, 17, on June 28, 2003 from Qayyumabad area of Korangi.

Two accused, Mahfooz Ahmed and Ateeq Ahmed Siddiqui, have been facing trial in said case before the Anti-terrorism Court, Karachi.

The SHC division bench comprising Justice Ghulam Rabbani and Justice Munib Ahmed Khan, extending the bail, adjourned the matter till October 2.Meanwhile, a single SHC bench comprising Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali confirmed protective bail of five policemen in a murder case.

Sub-Inspector Mehboob Ali, ASIs Zahid Iqbal and Nisar Ahmed, and constables Abdul Aziz and Ishaq have been accused of killing two persons, Hubdar Ali Leghari and Manzoor Jatoi, in what they claimed to be a ‘police encounter’ on February 27, 2003 in Bhitai Nagar area Hyderabad.—PPI