A Division Bench of Sindh High Court on Tuesday allowed a protective bail upto May 22 to Interior Minister Rehman Malik in a sum of Rs 100,000 in two cases against him. The Bench comprising Justice Amir Hani Muslim and Justice Syed Zakir Hussain heard an application in this regard in their chamber.
On the occasion Deputy Prosecutor General NAB Aslam Butt and the applicant's lawyers Akhtar Hussain and Khalid Ali Z Kazi Advocates appeared before the court. The court held that applicant Rehman Malik personally appeared and assured that he wants to appear before the concerned court in Rawalpindi and wants to face the case, but he apprehends that while going to Islamabad he will be arrested.
His lawyers informed the court that NAB had filed two references against Rehman on false allegations charging him with embezzlement of millions of rupees in the purchase of two Honda Civic cars for FIA from Toyota Central Motors. They submitted that the applicant had obtained bail in the cases but he was arrested in another case on January 1, 1997 and later freed on bail after which he was awarded 3-year imprisonment in his absence under Section 31-A of NAB Ordinance on January 7, 2004.
They submitted that the case was still under hearing, when section 31-A becomes ineffective after issuance of NRO 2007 and as such the punishment awarded too became ineffective. The applicant's lawyers further submitted that on December 16, 2009, the Supreme Court nullified the NRO whereafter the cases against Rehman revived.
They said the applicant filed appeals against his conviction before the Lahore High Court which were rejected on May 17, 2010 and the conviction awarded to him revived. The advocates requested the court that the interior minister wants to appear before the Ehtesab Court No IV at Rawalpindi for hearing of his cases and for the time being he is in Karachi in connection with the meetings of President Asif Ali Zardari. However it is apprehended that he will be arrested while going to Islamabad and, therefore, he be granted bail.