PESHAWAR, Feb 8: An accountability court here on Saturday granted bail to a former chief secretary of NWFP, Khalid Aziz, and an former accountant of education department, Khadim Hussain.

The court, presided over by Syed Yahya Zahid Gillani, directed the two accused, facing trial under the National Accountability Bureau Ordinance to furnish two sureties of Rs 15 million each.

Mr Aziz, who had also served as director-general of the former Ehtesab Bureau, was released the same day after remaining in prison for more than three years. Mr Hussain was not released as he could not furnish bail bonds on Saturday.

The court observed that the applicants had been allowed bail in accordance with the directives of the Peshawar High Court.

A two-member bench of the high court disposed of writ petitions of the two applicants seeking their release on bail on Jan 9 and had directed the accountability court to conclude their trial within one month. The high court had directed that in case the trial is not completed they should be released on bail.

The two applicants have been facing trial in a reference pertaining to primary education department.

Advocate Amjad Zia appeared for the Nab and argued that the high court had directed that the defendants should be granted bail in case the delay in conclusion of their trial was not on their part. He added that the trial could not be concluded as the defendants had sought adjournment on Jan 29 during the trial.

Advocate Aziz Akhter Chughtai appearing for the defendants, stated that the delay was on part of the prosecution as it had failed to produce a witness during the proceedings. He added that the high court had clearly pronounced that the defendants should be released if the trial could not be concluded within one month.