The Islamabad High Court (IHC) Monday granted interim pre-arrest bail to former chief minister of Sindh Syed Qaim Ali Shah in Roshan Sindh inquiry by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB).

A two-member bench of IHC comprising Justice Aamer Farooq and Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani heard bail petition of the former chief minister Sindh and granted pre-arrest bail to him till December 09.

The former chief minister of Sindh moved the court through his counsel Qasim Nawaz Abbasi and informed the court that the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has summoned his client in solar panels contract case on December 3 (today).

The lawyer contended that his client had only approved summary of the Roshan Sindh project and did not commit any irregularity. "He apprehends his arrest during the hearing before the NAB," the counsel said while seeking interim bail for Shah. Therefore, he prayed to the court to stop NAB from arresting former chief minister Sindh as he was not involved in any corruption.

After hearing the arguments, the bench granted interim bail to Qaim Ali Shah till December 9 and directed him to be a part of the investigation in NAB inquiry. The court also directed Shah to submit surety bond of Rs 500,000 against his interim bail.

The IHC bench also issued notice to the NAB on his petition seeking permanent bail in the case and adjourned the hearing till December 9. In this matter, the NAB is holding an inquiry into complaints of large-scale corruption in Roshan Sindh project initiated by the provincial government for installation of solar streetlights across the province.

The anti-graft watchdog summoned Shah in the fake bank accounts scam for recording his statement. The NAB Rawalpindi issued the summons of the former CM Sindh and asked him to appear before the investigation team along with all relevant records.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2019