Accused get bail in Shakoor’s death case

Court rejects IO’s request to send accused to jail on judicial remand

ISLAMABAD:

The district and sessions court in Islamabad on Thursday granted bail to the accused in Federal Minister for Religious Affairs Mufti Abdul Shakoor’s accident case.

In a shocking incident on April 15, Shakoor passed away in a road accident in the federal capital.

Police said that the incident occurred around Iftar when the federal minister was headed towards Secretariat Chowk from a local hotel.

In a statement, the capital's police said the minister was driving the car himself when a Toyota Hilux Revo — with five people onboard — smashed his vehicle at the driver's side.

The federal minister was shifted to Polyclinic Hospital in the federal capital, but due to severe internal bleeding, he succumbed to his wounds, the police said.

The accused, including the driver – Rao Gul Khan, Arshad Khan, and Ghulam Shabbir – were produced in court.

Judicial Magistrate Abbas Shah ordered the accused to submit a surety bond of Rs100,000 each.

In case of non-submission of bail bonds, the court ordered sending the three accused to jail.

During the proceedings, the investigation officer requested sending the three accused to jail on judicial remand. The court, however, rejected the request of the officer.

The investigation officer said that the charge of attempted murder was included against the accused, the court noted, adding that the officer deleted “murder” from the case.

“Bailable provisions are imposed on all three accused,” it added.