A division bench heard the bail plea filed by MQM-P leader who has denied all charges against him and termed the same as baseless.  Rauf Siddiqui, through his counsel, requested the court to restrain the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) from arresting him.

On the other hand, the NAB maintained that MQM leader had appointed or regularized many people without following due procedure in Sindh Small Industries Corporation in 2011 during his tenure as minister for industries and trade, and caused losses to the national exchequer.  After hearing the arguments from both sides, the SHC bench approved Rauf’s interim pre-arrest bail against a surety of Rs0.5million till November 21.

It may be recalled that besides charges of making illegal appointments, Rauf was being tried in many cases pertaining to hate speeches of MQM founder, Baldia factory fire and terrorists’ medical treatment at Zia-ud-din hospital.