PESHAWAR, July 28: A two-member bench of the Peshawar High Court on Wednesday granted bail to a former federal minister, Syed Qasim Shah, convicted by an accountability court a month ago.

The bench comprising Justice Shehzad Akber Khan and Justice Qaim Jan Khan directed that the accused-petitioner should be released after furnishing two sureties of Rs30 million each.

The bench observed that keeping in view the condition of the petitioner's health the petitioner deserved to be released on bail on medical grounds. Advocates M. Sardar Khan and Zafar Abbas Zaidi represented the petitioner. The petitioner claimed that he had been suffering from various ailments and he may be released on bail so that he could be properly treated.

The counsel contended that the appeal of the petitioner against his conviction had already been pending before the high court and the court had suspended recovery of fine from him.

The petitioner was convicted by an accountability court presided over by Attaullah Khan on June 24 and was sentenced to four years rigorous imprisonment with a fine of Rs36.29 million.

The trial court had also disqualified Mr Shah from holding any public office for 10 years. Mr Shah, hailing from Mansehra, was charged with possession of assets disproportionate to his known sources of income.

The National Accountability Bureau had filed a reference of Rs165 million against him. He was arrested on Sept 29, 2000, and few months before his conviction he was released on bail. After his conviction he was again arrested.