KARACHI, Aug 18: The judicial magistrate, East, Shamsuddin Junejo, granted bail to civil rights campaigner Iqbal Kazmi in a dud cheque case on Saturday. Riaz Hussain Shah had lodged the FIR (No 145/06) with Al-Falah police against Mr Kazmi for issuing him a dud cheque for Rs240,000.

In his bail plea, the accused had submitted that the complainant had issued him a dud cheque (dated March 31, 2006) of Al-Falah Society Branch of National Bank of Pakistan. He said when the cheque was dishonoured he lodged an FIR. Subsequently, he said, Mr Shah lodged a counter FIR accusing him of issuing a dud cheque.

Mr Kazmi was granted bail against a surety bond of Rs100,000 in the case. However, the court did not grant him bail in another dud cheque case registered at the same police station due to the absence of the investigation officer and non-submission of the charge-sheet. The magistrate ordered the Shah Faisal police to collect and produce the documents on Aug 22.

The SHO of Defence police station, Asif Ali Jakharani, submitted to the court that he was ready to register a case according to the statement of Shazia alias Sadia Kazmi, the wife of Iqbal Kazmi.

Appearing before the Additional District and Sessions Judge, Mohammad Azim, the SHO said: “I cannot think of committing contempt of the court and the allegations levelled against me by Iqbal Kazmi are baseless.”

The court fixed Aug 22 for putting up the contempt application filed by Iqbal Kazmi and its rejoinder by the SHO.

Earlier, Mr Kazmi had submitted that the SHO was not ready to comply with a court order to register a case against Sindh Home Adviser Waseem Akhtar, DSP Zahid Hussain, SI Munir Chandio and Hanif Memon for their alleged involvement in kidnapping and torture of his wife.