KARACHI: An accountability court has granted interim pre-arrest bail to a private contractor in a case pertaining to alleged corruption in the National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases (NICVD).

The National Accountability Bureau has booked NICVD director Dr Nadeem Qamar Shah and others in a case about administrative affairs of the health facility.

Faisal Bin Bashir, a private contractor, approached the administrative judge of the accountability court seeking grant of bail to avoid his arrest in the present case.

The applicant submitted that he was proprietor of the M/s Green Tech and Supplier, who was hired for the installation of panaflex, steamers, signage of different sizes by the management of the NICVD.

He further submitted that the anti-graft watchdog had initiated an inquiry against officials and officers of the NICVD and its administrative affairs over alleged misappropriation of funds.

The applicant said that he was also booked in the case, adding the Sindh High Court had already granted him protective bail till Nov 3.

Mr Bashir said that he wanted to join the probe, but feared his arrest. Therefore, he asked the court to grant him bail before arrest.

The judge Abdul Ghani Soomro granted him an interim pre-arrest bail for a surety of Rs1 million till Nov 5 and directed him to cooperate in the investigation of the case.

Published in Dawn, November 5th, 2021