Bail granted: PPP leader released from jail

PPP's MNA faces multiple charges for kidnapping and murder

KARACHI: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) lawmaker Shahjahan Baloch was released from prison on Saturday, after an anti-terrorism court (ATC) approved his bail plea two days ago.

Baloch, PPP's MNA from its NA-248 stronghold in Lyari, faces multiple charges for kidnapping and murder of gangster Arshad Pappu, his brother and aide. The ATC trying him in the triple murder case had granted Baloch bail on Thursday against a surety of Rs1million.

According to the lawmaker's attorney, Mushtaq Ahmed, his client faced a number of cases, including three cases of murder. However, he has been acquitted in all the cases except in Pappu's murder case, the lawyer added.

According to the prosecution, Pappu and two others were abducted from a flat in Defence Housing Authority in March 2013. Later, they were lynched in Lyari by a rival gang in collusion with the lawmaker and some policemen, the prosecution maintained.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 25^th, 2016.