PML-N leader granted bail in corruption case

RAWALPINDI: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader and former senator Chaudhry Tanvir Khan, who was arrested by the Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) Punjab in connection with a corruption case on March 11, was granted bail by a court here on Tuesday.

Chaudhry Tanvir had been in remand custody after his arrest. He was granted bail on two surety bonds worth Rs1 million each. He is expected to be released on Wednesday after completion of the bail documents.

Malik Waheed Anjum Advocate appeared in the court of Special Judge Anti-Corruption Masroor Zaman on behalf of the PML-N leader and produced his health certificate and sought bail as he is a heart patient.

Soon after Mr Khan was brought to Rawalpindi after being arrested at the Karachi airport, a duty magistrate had sent him on a day’s remand. Later, he was shifted to the Rawalpindi Institute of Cardiology (RIC) with a chest pain.

After the completion of the one-day remand, Mr Khan was produced before the court of Senior Civil Judge Mohammad Qadafi bin Sairamid tight security, seeking his physical remand for further investigation.

The senior civil judge granted seven days’ physical remand and he was to be produced in the court on March 21.

“As per version of the accused that he was suffering from heart disease and his heart working only to the extent of 20pc is concerned, the investigation officer is directed to get him checked up from the RIC immediately and provide necessary treatment as well as medicine to him,” the court order had said.

Mr Khan had been suggested an angiography test/coronary angiogram by a board of senior doctors at the RIC which were done. A coronary angiogram can show blocked or narrowed blood vessels in the heart.

It may be noted that Mr Khan had been abroad due to his illness and returned to Pakistan to attend his son’s wedding. He was arrested by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) at the Jinnah International Airport Karachi while leaving the country on March 11 as his name had been placed on the watch list in connection with the corruption case registered by the ACE Punjab.

According to the ACE, the PML-N leader was arrested in connection with a case registered against him on March 8, 2022.

ACE Director Naeemullah Bhatti had formed an investigation team consisting of circle officer Rawalpindi Zulfiqar Bazid, circle officer Attock Sanaullah and others.