IHC grants bail to Ahsan Iqbal in Narowal Sports City scandal

ISLAMABAD (92 News) – The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday granted bail to Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) leader and erstwhile interior minister Ahsan Iqbal in Narowal Sports City scandal. A two-member bench headed by IHC Chief Justice Athar Minullah heard the cases. The court approved the bail of Ahsan Iqbal against bail bonds worth Rs10 million. During the hearing, Additional Prosecutor General Nab opposed the bail of Iqbal, saying that if the suspect is granted bail then it can disrupt the case’s record. During the arguments, Justice Minallah remarked that arresting a suspect to interrogate him shows incompetence on the part of the investigation officer and a suspect is innocent until the crime is proven against him. The APG Nab then said that if the PML-N leader submits his passport and appears when summoned by the court then he has no objection. The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has arrested the former interior minister in December as he appeared before it in relation to the corruption case. The anti-graft watchdog had begun investigating the complex in July 2018. The bureau investigation team also visited the Narowal Sports City project in November to secure records. The mega venture was one of the primary projects developed under former minister for planning Ahsan Iqbal during the PML-N's tenure. Earlier, the hearings on the bail pleas of former prime minister Abbasi and Ahsan have been postponed till February 24 on Thursday. The bail petitions of both PML-N leaders, without any proceedings, were postponed as IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah is on sick leave. The NAB had filed cases against Khaqan Abbasi and Iqbal over corruption in liquefied natural gas (LNG) and Narowal Sports City projects.