ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Wednesday granted bail to Omni Group owner Anwar Majeed, a close aide of former president Asif Ali Zardari, in the fake bank account scam on medical grounds.
An apex court bench headed by Justice Mushir Alam directed the authorities to place his name to the Exit Control List (ECL). Majeed has been asked to furnish surety bonds worth Rs100 million as bank guarantee along with his passport to the Supreme Court’s Registrar to secure bail.
The top court also directed Anwar Majeed to cooperate with the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in its probe into the graft cases filed against him. The president judged said the impression that the anti-graft watchdog has a different attitude towards political leaders should be dismissed.
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NAB prosecutor said that Anwar Majeed has been in hospital since his arrest and yet to appear before the bureau. He complained that 15 investigations and four references are being delayed due to non-cooperation.
Justice Alam instructed Majeed to not obstruct investigations and cooperate with the bureau. Justice Qazi Amin, the other member of the bench, observed that the accused had a chronic heart condition.
Justice Amin said receiving treatment is Anwar Majeed’s basic right but the court cannot allow the accused from leaving the country. Munir A Akram, the counsel for Majeed, contended the co-accused Asif Zardari was also out on bail. He said that doctors had advised his client to get his surgery done from the UK or the US.
The bench rejected the plea allowing Majeed to travel abroad and later granted bail. The court said it was dependent on his cooperation with NAB in its ongoing investigation against him and could be revoked.
