PESHAWAR, Feb 27: The Peshawar High Court on Friday granted bail to a person accused of molesting a boy. The bench, comprising Justice Malik Hamid Saeed, directed that accused-petitioner Shaheen Haq alias Osama should be released on furnishing two sureties of Rs100,000 each.

The petitioner was arrested after an FIR was lodged against him with Lal Qila police station in Dir on Oct 17, 2003. He was charged with sexually molesting a 10-year-old boy. A student of class 4, the victim had identified Shaheen for the commission of the offence.

The petitioner was earlier granted bail by the court of a judicial magistrate, but the Zila Qazi set aside the order and his bail was recalled. The petitioner's counsel argued that it was not a case of molestation.

He said the accused should have been only charged with attempting to molest the boy. The lawyer said the medical report also supported his contention.