PESHAWAR, May 25: The Peshawar High Court on Tuesday allowed interim pre-arrest bail to a former executive engineer of communication and works department, Abdul Qayyum, accused of accumulating illegal wealth.

A two-member bench comprising Justice Tariq Pervez and Justice Ijaz Afzal directed the petitioner to submit two sureties of two million rupees each. The bench fixed June 15 for next hearing. The chairman of National Accountability Bureau had issued arrest warrants of the petitioner but he could not be arrested.

The NAB accused him of being absconding from law and filed a reference against him under section 31-A of the NAB Ordinance for trying him in absentia. During his absence the petitioner was sentenced to three years imprisonment in absentia.

A few days ago he filed a petition before the Supreme Court which granted him protected bail and directed him to move the high court. Mr Qayyum filed a petition before the high court, praying that he may be allowed pre-arrest bail on medical grounds.