Bank Of Punjab Scam: Hearing of Afzal’s bail plea from 13th

Former law minister Babar Awan said his client had been behind bars for 19 months but his trial had not even started.

LAHORE: A division bench of the Lahore High Court on Thursday admitted for regular hearing a bail petition from Sheikh Afzal, owner of Haris Steels Mill, in the Bank of Punjab scam case and issued notice to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) for July 13.  Former federal law minister Babar Awan said his client had been behind bars for 19 months but his trial had not even started. He said his client had appeared at 56 hearings, yet the charges against him had not been framed yet. He said Afzal’s health was deteriorating. He said an accused becomes eligible for bail after two years in jail without the conclusion of his trial.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 1^st, 2011.