An anti-corruption court in Karachi on Monday granted former prime minister Yousaf Raza Gilani interim bail in 11 more corruption cases related to a multibillion rupee trade subsidy scam.
The Federal Anti-Corruption Court granted interim bail to the former prime minister against a surety bond of Rs.100,000 for each case. Further, the court asked police to not arrest Gilani till the next hearing of the case on October 12.
Talking to media persons, Yousaf Raza Gilani stated that he has asked the court to tell how many more cases are due against him. He said he was abroad at the previous hearing date and had he not been present today, he would have been declared absconder.
He said that PPP respects the courts and will face the fake cases filed by FIA.
On the occasion, strict security measurements were ensured as bomb disposal squad (BDS) did sweeping around the court. Heavy contingent of police was deployed outside the court.
PPP workers warmly welcome Gilani on his arrival and chanted slogans, disrupting hearings of other cases.
Earlier, Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) presented challans against the two leaders, Gilani and Amin Fahim, in as many as 12 cases. The court accepted the challans and ordered the agency to present the alleged culprits before court on September 10.
On August 27, an anti-corruption court in Karachi issued non-bailable arrest warrants for Gilani and fellow Pakistan Peoples Party leader Makhdoom Amin Fahim in connection to the multi-billion-rupee Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) scam.
The two senior PPP leaders were booked along with others for their alleged involvement in embezzling TDAP funds through fraudulent trade subsidies and fictitious claims when their party was in power.
More than 70 cases related to the scam had been pending before the court; Gilani and his associates were charged in 12 of these last year. However, both Gilani and Fahim obtained bail and exemptions from appearing in hearings.