LAHORE, Aug 10: The Lahore High Court on Friday granted interim pre-arrest bail to former principal secretary to chief minister Tauqir Shah and former staff officer Talha Burki who were booked by the Federal Investigation Agency on charges of issuing a false intelligence report on murder plot of former LHC chief justice Khwaja Sharif.

Justice Ali Baqar Najafi directed the accused to submit surety bonds of Rs50,000 each and adjourned hearing of their bail petitions till Aug 30.

Advocate Khwaja Haris argued that the accused had no role in the conspiracy but the FIA registered a case against them and others. He requested the court to allow the bail petition as court of central special judge had been lying vacant for months.

Meanwhile, Justice Anwarul Haq admitted for regular hearing another petition of the accused persons seeking cancellation of the FIR registered by the FIA.

The judge heard arguments of Advocate Haris and directed the FIA to produce record of case on Aug 30. —Staff Reporter