Qaim’s pre-arrest bail extended due to Covid

The Sindh High Court (SHC) on Tuesday extended the interim pre-arrest bail of former chief minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah in the National Accountability Bureau’s inquiry against education department officials and granted condonation of his absence after the court was informed that he had contracted Covid-19.

Shah had moved the SHC for obtaining protective pre-arrest bail in the accountability watchdog’s inquiry against education department officials. The petitioner’s counsel said his client was on interim bail and sought condonation of his absence because he had tested positive for the viral disease.

NAB’s special prosecutor had informed the court that the case was pending at the inquiry stage. An SHC division bench headed by Justice Mohammad Iqbal Kalhoro condoned Shah’s absence on medical grounds and extended his interim pre-arrest bail until September 15, directing NAB’s counsel to file a progress report in the next hearing.