LHC grants bail to former PU VC, three others

LAHORE:  

The Lahore High Court (LHC) granted bail to former Punjab University (PU) vice chancellor Dr Mujahid Kamran and three others on Wednesday for their involvement in making illegal appointments which violated procurement rules.

A two judge bench headed by Justice Ali Baqar Najafi granted bail to Kamran, former PU registrar Dr Liaqat Ali and two additional registrars Dr Aurangzaib Alamgir and Dr Kamran Abid. The accused will have to furnish bail bonds of Rs500,000 each.

The petitioner’s counsel implored to the court that all the appointments had been made on merit and according to the rules. Despite this, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) arrested them under false allegations.

The bench expressed dismay when the counsel informed the court that the professors had been handcuffed, despite the fact that they were aged, when NAB produced them before the court seeking physical remand.

At this, NAB’s counsel contended that they had already tendered an apology for handcuffing the accused. He opposed the bails contending that Kamran and the other professors had been arrested under charges of nepotism.

After hearing both sides’ arguments, the bench allowed bails and ordered to release the accused.

Kamran had challenged his remand and inquiry initiated by NAB. He had filed a petition under Article 199 of the Constitution of Pakistan, making the NAB director, NAB director general, NAB investigation officer and the accountability court administrative judge the respondents.

Kamran had contended that NAB had arrested him illegally when he has nothing to do with the allegations that have been levelled against him. He pleaded to the court to release him by granting post-arrest bail as the entire case is illegal, void, without lawful authority, of no legal effect and one of further inquiry.

Kamran was arrested for his alleged involvement in making over 500 illegal appointments to grade 17 and above between 2013 and 2017, violating procurement rules. Kamran was also accused of appointing his wife, Dr Shazia Qureshi, as principal of Punjab University Law College. He was also accused of awarding scholarships to his favourite students.