PESHAWAR, Feb 16: A two-member bench of the Peshawar High Court on Wednesday extended the bail granted to former federal minister Syed Qasim Shah till March 20.

Mr Shah was granted the bail on medical grounds by the high court last year for a period of six months which expired last month.

The bench, comprising Justice Tariq Pervez and Justice Qaim Jan Khan, directed that if the petitioner could not appear before the court on the next hearing he would have to file a fresh petition for further extension of his bail.

The petitioner's counsel, Yahya Afridi, produced records regarding the medical treatment of Mr Shah in the US. He contended that his operation would be conducted on March 7. He added that the petitioner was not in a position to return and appear before the court.

The bench hoped that he would be able to recover after his operation by March 20. Mr Shah was granted bail on medical grounds on July 28, 2004, for a period of six months. After getting bail from the court he proceeded to the US for medical treatment.

The petitioner was convicted by an accountability court, presided over by Attaullah Khan, on June 24, 2004, and was sentenced to a four-year rigorous imprisonment with a fine of Rs36.29 million. The trial court had also disqualified Mr Shah from holding any public office for 10 years.

He was arrested on Sep 29, 2000, and a few months before his conviction he was released on bail. After his conviction he was again arrested. Later, his sentence was suspended and he was again released on bail.