ISLAMABAD   -   The Supreme Court of Pakistan Thursday granted post-arrest bail to PPP leader Syed Khursheed Ahmed Shah on merit in the reference on assets beyond means.

A two-member bench of the apex court headed by Justice Umar Ata Bandial and comprising Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah conducted hearing of the bail petition of PPP leader, who has been in the NAB custody for the last 24 months.

The Sindh High Court had rejected the post-arrest bail of PPP veteran leader in July this year.

Khursheed Shah was granted the bail subject to furnish of Rs10 million surety bond to the trial court. The short order of the bench said, “The petitioner (Khursheed) is granted bail on merit. However, his name will remain on Exit Control List (ECL) subject to any relief granted by Accountability Court.”

Justice Bandial directed the NAB prosecutor general to continue the investigation against the PPP leader. Makhdoom Ali Khan, representing Khursheed Shah, said that all the immoveable properties, sale deeds and the collector evaluation of the land is on the record. The petitioner provided all these documents to the anti-graft body, but it disregarded them, the counsel argued.

He said that his client is in the NAB custody since 18-09-2019 and out of 44 witnesses only 8 witnesses have recorded their statements and are cross-examined so far. The investigation report and the reference were filed three months after the arrest. He said that many persons whom the NAB declared ‘benamidar’ of Khursheed Shah are either not nominated in the case or they were already on bail. The special prosecutor NAB informed that the accused (Khursheed Shah) was unable to explain the source of income with that he purchased the properties. He also declined to provide the details of his bank accounts and the properties’ documents.

The NAB investigation officer (IO) told that the accused had purchased amenities plots, which were illegally converted to residential plots through his influence.

However, the NAB prosecutor and the IO failed to satisfy the apex court about the allegations against Khursheed regarding his properties and travelling expenses, therefore, the bench granted bail to the PPP veteran leader. Khursheed has been accused of having bungalows, hotels, petrol pumps built in the name of others. According to the NAB, Khursheed Shah had acquired assets worth some Rs700 million on names of his frontmen through ill-gotten money.