DERA ISMAIL KHAN, July 26: Amanullah Khan Kundi, a former provincial minister, who was imprisoned for life on drug smuggling charges by a speedy trial court in Karachi in 1992, was released here on Monday after the provincial government withdrew cases pending against him.

The Senior Civil Judge of Dera Ismail Khan, Aqeel Ahmad Aajiz, endorsed and confirmed the provincial government order regarding the withdrawal of cases against him on July 23 and ordered his release.

However, Mr Kundi was not released on the day as he was also charged in a case under section 216/216B in district Tank for giving protection to proclaimed offenders. The Senior Civil Judge of Tank, Sofia Awan, accepted the bail application of Mr Kundi on Monday and he was released from the DHQ teaching hospital in Dera Ismail Khan, where he was admitted for heart ailment.

He would remain in the hospital, but the police was removed from there. However, the Anti-Narcotics Force has already instituted a case against Mr Amanullah Kundi in the Peshawar High Court, which would come up for hearing on Tuesday.