After remaining behind bars for about 16 months over corruption charges, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa's (KP) erstwhile provincial minister for mines and minerals Ziaullah Afridi was granted bail by the Peshawar High Court on Tuesday.
Afridi was arrested on July 9, 2015 for misappropriation of billions of rupees through illegal mining. The KP Ehtesab Commission (KPEC) registered two other cases against him for illegal mining in Charsadda and Abbottabad. The cases alleged that the minister was involved in illegal mining in Nowshera district and making unlawful appointments and transfers in the department during his tenure.
The minister was granted bail against two surety bonds worth Rs 1 million each on grounds that all co-accused in the case were granted bail, including DG Mines and Minerals Department Dr Liaquat Ali. Dr Ali and Khalid Yousaf were granted bail in Chromite Tangi Mines case; Mir Zaman in appointment case and Khan Pervaiz in illegal mining case.
Afridi's counsel Shumail Ahmad Butt argued before the bench headed by Justice Waqar Ahmad Seth that the petitioner was in prison for the last 16 months yet KPEC failed to file a reference against him. "Non-filing of the reference means the trial has not begun," Butt contended.
The counsel argued that reference Tangi Chromites in Charsadda district of KP case was also not filed. He pointed out delay in producing record before the court, saying the delay was not on part of the petitioner. "Almost all adjournments were requested by the prosecution while provision of the record and replies were also its responsibility," he argued.