Court grants pre-arrest bail to Usman Buzdar

Lahore’s accountability court on Saturday granted interim bail to former chief minister Punjab Usman Buzdar in an inquiry initiated by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) against assets beyond known sources of income.

Judge Malik Ali Zulqarnain Awan heard the bail petition filed by Usman Buzdar through advocate Barrister Momin Malik. NAB Special Prosecutor Waris Ali Janjua appeared in the court on behalf of the accountability watchdog.

Usman Buzdar had submitted a pre-arrest bail petition through his lawyer, Barrister Momin Malik.

In the bail application, it has been pleaded that NAB has started another inquiry into assets beyond income.

The former Chief Minister said that there was a fear that NAB wants to arrest him and the court should grant pre-arrest bail.

The accountability court granted interim bail to Usman Buzdar restraining NAB from arresting him till November 30 in the assets beyond means case.

At the same time, the court directed Usman Buzdar to submit a bond of Rs 500,000 and sought a written reply from NAB on the next hearing.