The Lahore High Court on Friday accepted the post-arrest bail of former XEN Rana Muhammad Iqbal Ashraf in a bribery case offered to ex-secretary to CM Muhammad Khan Bhatti. The court also ordered the accused to submit Rs100,000 surety bonds against the bail. LHC judge Justice Shahram Sarwar Chaudhry heard the case.

Advocate Muhammad Qaiser Amin Rana represented Rana Iqbal Ashraf. According to prosecutor, the accused offered bribe to ex-principal secretary to CM Muhammad Khan Bhatti for the choice posting. However, advocate Amin Rana contended that police extracted statement invoking section 164 from the accused under duress. The statement taken under duress has no legal value, he added.

He went on to say that the prosecution had no other proof except the statement given under pressure by his client. The government prosecutor, however, opposed the bail plea and told the court that the accused's properties and all record during his posting was being checked by the authorities. The Punjab Anti-Corruption Establishment, Lahore region, registered an FIR according to which ex-principal secretary Bhatti had received millions of rupees for lucrative postings from SDO Highway Rana Muhammad Ashraf during last few years.

The FIR further mentioned that Rana Muhammad Iqbal paid at least Rs70 million as kickbacks and bribe during posting as XEN M&R Gujrat Division, 250 million rupees during posting as SDO Phalia Highway subdivision, Rs4 million for additional charge from May 2021 to May 2022 as XEN Highways District Kasur and 120 million rupees for awarding contract to Naveed construction company and Rana construction company.

Credit : Independent News Pakistan-INP