ISLAMABAD, May 20: The Supreme Court on Tuesday granted bail to a former NWFP minister, Ghaniur Rehman, who is charged with having assets beyond his known sources of income.

The Supreme Court bench comprising Chief Justice Shaikh Riaz Ahmad, Justice Mian Mohammad Ajmal and Justice Mohammad Nawaz Abbasi ordered the appellant to furnish a personal surety bond of Rs20 million.

Waseem Sajjad appeared for the appellant and submitted that his client had purchased all his property before 1985, when he held no public office.

He argued that despite presenting all the relevant documents which showed that the assets had been acquired before the petitioner’s holding of any public office, the Peshawar High Court had dismissed the bail appeal.

He argued that his client was seriously ill and he might be granted bail on medical grounds.

Mr Rehman was arrested by the NAB on the charges of having assets of Rs51.5 million, which were beyond of his known sources of income.

An accountability court had awarded him eight years rigorous imprisonment, a fine of Rs20 million and confiscation of the properties.—PPI