KARACHI, Feb 1: The Sindh High Court confirmed the interim bail granted to former revenue minister Imtiaz Ahmed Shaikh in a kidnapping-for-ransom case on Thursday.

According to the prosecution, Imtiaz Shaikh and others kidnapped Umar Iqbal, 17, from Qayyumabad, Korangi, on June 28, 2003. Mohammad Iqbal, Umar’s father, lodged a complaint with the Korangi police station on March 28, 2005. According to the complainant, the kidnappers demanded Rs1.5 million as ransom for his son’s release. Umar was, however, released on payment of Rs700,000 by him.

The amount was delivered at the Defence residence of Imtiaz Shaikh, he alleged. The case was sent up for trial by an anti-terrorism court.

The applicant’s counsel, Fareed A. Dayo, said the occurrence admittedly took place in June 2003 but a complaint was lodged and registered in March 2005. The inordinate delay was inexplicable and was sufficient to warrant a bail order. The case was, in fact, a sequel to the political tussle between the chief minister and his revenue minister, as a result of which he was first sacked from the cabinet and then subjected to political victimisation.

The prosecution claimed that the complainant himself was involved in a criminal case by the accused in the kidnapping case. He remained behind bars for some months. Besides, a case against the accused could not be registered due to their political influence.

A division bench comprising Justices Rehmat Hussain Jafferi and Munib Ahmed Khan confirmed the interim bail order. Imtiaz Shaikh, who is on interim bail in all criminal and corruption cases, was present in court.