Former provincial minister granted bail in Chiniot mining case

LAHORE: A Lahore High Court (LHC) division bench granted bail to former provincial minister Sibtain Khan in the Chiniot mining contract case.

The bench directed the former minister to submit two surety bonds of Rs5 million for availing the relief. The division bench headed by Justice Ali Baqar Najafi heard the post-arrest bail petition filed by the former minister.

During the proceedings, Advocate Haider Rasul Mirza on behalf of Khan submitted that the bureau arrested his client on baseless allegations in connection with the mining contract case. He submitted that Khan, being a minister for mining and minerals in 2007, only forwarded the summary moved by the then secretary whereas there was no allegation of causing loss to the national exchequer or gaining monetary benefit against him.

He submitted that the bureau conducted an inquiry into the case earlier but it was closed after no evidence was found against his client.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 19^th, 2019.