An anti-corruption court on Tuesday approved bail for former prime minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani in 12 cases pertaining to a multi-billion rupees trade subsidy scam. The judge of Special Federal Anti-Corruption Court-I, Mohammad Azeem, granted bail to the former prime minister subject to furnishing a surety in the sum of Rs 100,000 in each case. The court, however, directed him to ensure his presence in court on the next date of hearing of cases.
Senior PPP leader and former prime minister Gilani, who had been booked for his alleged involvement in the multi-billion trade subsidy scam, showed up before the court after it issued warrants for his arrest on June 02. PPP leader represented by his counsel Farooq H Naik filed a bail application on Tuesday, submitting that the cases instituted against him were false and politically motivated.
He said he had not received any arrest warrants or summons of the court for his appearance before it yet he himself surrendered before the court to face the trial. He said he was ready to cooperate with investigation agency in corruption cases while requesting the court to allow him pre-arrest bail. On June 2, the court while accepting the final charge-sheet in cases, had issued non-bailable arrest warrants for Gilani, former commerce minister Amin Fahim and other accused, and directed the FIA to arrest and produce them before the court on June 17. FIA had submitted in the court 12 charge-sheets pertaining to the scam in which two PPP leaders were shown absconders.
The PPP leaders along with some former and serving senior officials of the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) and private individuals had been booked for their alleged involvement in approving and disbursing fraudulent trade subsidies worth billion of rupees to several fake companies through fictitious claims and backdated cheques.
In addition to two leaders, former deputy secretary to Prime Minister's Secretariat Mohammad Zubair, Farhan Junejo, Faisal Siddique, Mehr Haroon Rasheed, Mian Tariq, Zafar Hussain, Noman Siddiqui, Syed Mohibullah Shah and others have been declared absconders. The court once again directed FIA to arrest the other accused who were shown absconders in cases. The court adjourned the hearing of case to July 10.
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