SC confirms interim bail to policemen

Officials are accused of handing over 11 prisoners to intelligence agencies.

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Friday confirmed interim bail to the superintendent and deputy superintendent of Adiala Jail, Rawalpindi, in the case of the 11 missing prisoners.

Superintendent of Central Jail, Adiala, Rawalpindi, Saeedullah Gondal and deputy superintendent Khalid Bashir are accused of handing over the prisoners to intelligence agencies, soon after they were released from jail in May 2010.

A three-member bench, headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, confirmed their bail and observed that the plaintiffs could file an appeal for cancellation of bail if they find solid evidence against them in the future. The plaintiffs, the court said, can file the appeal in the district and sessions court where the officials are already facing trial for the same case.

The two police officials were arrested on October 26, 2010, from outside the Supreme Court’s building, following orders from the CJP. A district and sessions court, where the officials stood trial, observed that they were not responsible for the disappearance of the 11 men.

On December 3, 2010, an additional district and sessions judge granted them bail against surety bonds of Rs100,000 each. However, the Lahore High Court cancelled the bails later on February 2, 2011.

Later, after initial denial, intelligence agencies informed the Supreme Court that the prisoners were in their custody and that their immediate families could meet them.

Meanwhile, in another case regarding pensions for widows, Justice Chaudhry directed the Punjab government to raise the pension of widows of Punjab government employees from 50 per cent to 75 per cent.

Punjab Advocate-General Khawaja Haris told the court that the provincial government had already decided to increase the pension to 75 per cent.

He said that the provincial government had also decided to increase marriage grant for daughters of government servants.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 26^th, 2011.