QUETTA, Sept 3: A division bench of the Balochistan High Court extended on Monday the interim bail before arrest of federal minister and provincial chief of PML-Q Jam Yousuf and PPP-Sherpao chief Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao in the Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti murder case.

The bench comprising Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhel and Justice Ghulam Mustafa Mengal extended the stay order till Oct 1.

The court asked the investigation officer to complete the probe by recording statements of Jam Yousuf and Mr Sherpao today (Monday), and submit the report at the next hearing fixed for Oct 1.

APP adds: The court hearing the bail petitions of Mr Sherpao and Jam Yousuf, who was chief minister of Balochistan at the time of Mr Bugti’s murder, expressed dissatisfaction over the progress in the investigation into the case,When Mr Sherpao said he knew nothing about the operation in which Mr Bugti died, the court asked why did not he resign when he had not been taken on board by those responsible.

The court was informed by Jam Yousuf’s lawyer that his client was ready for recording his statement but he had not been contacted by any official.

Expressing displeasure over the ignorance of Jam Yousuf about the high-profile operation in Balochistan, the court said how it was possible that being chief executive of the province he was unaware of the military action and that he should have tendered his resignation immediately after Mr Bugti’s death if that indeed was the case.

Iftikhar Hussain Gilani and Nasir Khan Yousufzai represented Mr Sherpao and Mr Ilyas Khan represented Jam Yousuf.