HYDERABAD, Nov 10: The Sindh High Court, Hyderabad circuit bench, comprising Mr Justice Faisal Arab and Mr Justice Abdul Rasheed Kalwar, on Monday granted bail to former Sindh minister Altaf Hussain Unnar and Misri Khoso, accused in an attempted murder case of PPP MNA Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho.

Unnar was represented by M.R. Shah advocate from Karachi while Hidayatullah Abbasi appeared on behalf of Misri Khoso. The two accused were respectively granted bail in a sum of Rs3 lakh and Rs2 lakh, respectively as Advocate General (AG) Sindh Yusuf Leghari strongly opposed the bail.

He was assisted by Ishrat Lohar, advocate, appointed special public prosecutor in the case in lower court by the government.

The case against them was lodged at Budhapur police station following an incident that took place on February 10, 2007 in Jamshoro during by-elections on a provincial assembly seat.

The AG argued that it was a crime against society because the incident took place during polling hours and a large number of people had gathered there to cast their vote in Budhapur, district Jamshoro. He said that registration of FIR was not delayed but the outgoing SHO refused to lodge it.

He said that when Arbab-led Sindh government completed its tenure the FIR was lodged. He said that the incident was tantamount to spreading terrorism at a polling station. He said that if the bullet didn’t hit complainant or damaged the vehicle it doesn’t mean the incident didn’t take place.

Unnar’s counsel pleaded that his client deserved bail because it was a politically-motivated case. He said that statements of polling officers or presiding officer were not obtained by investigating officer.

He further said that there a delay of 14 months in registration of FIR against his client, who was arrested from Larkana soon after installation of PPP government in Sindh.

He said that section 324 couldn’t be attracted under present circumstances and that application didn’t mention in the FIR that she had filed an application before sessions court for registration of FIR. He said that his client was a sick and aged man and he served as Sindh minister.

However, Mr Unnar has not yet been released from jail because he faces another criminal case lodged under section 13-D of Arms Ordinance by MNA Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho.