SHC irked by minister's absence at bail plea hearing

Bench extends Ziaul Hasan Lanjar's bail till next date of the hearing

KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) expressed on Monday its displeasure over the absence of the provincial minister for the law and prisons department, Ziaul Hasan Lanjar, during a hearing of his bail application in connection with a corruption reference.



A two-judge bench headed by Justice Sadiq Hussain Bhatti, however, granted the minister a one-time exemption from personal appearance and directed him to appear on the next date of the hearing to be later fixed by the office.

Lanjar, who belongs to the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), had obtained bail on May 29 anticipating arrest by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in connection with corruption charges. Granting him bail in sum of Rs500,000, the court had directed him to appear on June 12 for confirmation of his bail or otherwise. Meanwhile, a notice was also issued to the NAB special prosecutor to file comments.



During Monday's proceedings, Lanjar's lawyer Farooq H Naek submitted an application seeking one-day exemption for the minister from appearing in the court. Naek informed the judges that the minister was at a meeting of the parliamentary committee due to which he could not appear in the court. He assured the judges that Lanjar would appear on the next date of hearing.

The bench took exception to his absence from court despite the issuance of clear directions on the previous date. However, it approved the application for one-day exemption. The bench also extended the PPP minister's bail till the next date of the hearing, which will be later notified by the office.

Meanwhile, the NAB special prosecutor was directed to file comments.