SC bails prisoner held for 6 months

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court accepted the bail application and released Raja Jamil Abbasi, the man accused of receiving 132 banned arms licenses for Dyncorp, a controversial American security agency.

The 3 member bench of the Supreme Court was led by the Chief Justice (CJ) Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry comprising Justice Ch Ijaz Ahmad and Justice Ghulam Rabbani. Raja Jamil Abbasi was released against a security deposit of Rs 0.5 million and a two person guarantee.

Sardar Asmat Ullah Khan, representing Abbasi pleaded before the bench that his client has been in prison for the last six months and fifteen days. Director Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Azam Khan appeared before the bench but could not present any substantial evidence against Abbasi.

Justice Ghulam Rabbani told Khan, “no one can been imprisoned on the grounds that in future evidence will be collected against him.” The CJ also said that “there is no reason to keep a person behind bars if no sufficient evidence is available against him,” adding that if the FIA find evidence against Abbasi then they can file an application with this court for the cancellation of his bail.

Khan submitted before the bench that State Minister for Interior Tasnim Qureshi issued licenses to Inter-Risk under the delegated discretionary powers of the prime minster.

The prime job of Inter-Risk was to provide security facilities to US based Dyncorp security agency.

The US has planned to expand its aviation services programme and asked Pakistan to allow Dyncorp to bring in more manpower. The US has also sought the release of equipment held by the Pakistani customs authorities and a proper base from where the fleet can operate.

Dyncorp is a Virginia based security firm that signed a 5 year contract with the US State department and was paid $32 million for the maintenance programme in Pakistan. It is believed that the US government put tremendous pressure on the interior ministry to allow Dyncorp to work in Pakistan by collaborating with some local firms because the US wants Dyncorp to provide security to its installations in Pakistan.