LAHORE: The Lahore High Court on Wednesday granted bail to former MPA Qaiser Amin Butt who turned approver in the Paragon Housing Society case against former railways minister Khwaja Saad Rafiq and his brother Khwaja Salman Rafiq.

Representing Mr Butt, Advocate Pir Masood Chishti contended that the petitioner became an approver in the case and the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) also concluded its investigation.

The counsel said the NAB had not released the petitioner despite the fact that its chairman had pardoned him. He argued that the NAB under the law could not keep a suspect behind the bars once its chairman pardoned him.

Advocate Chishti undertook before the court that the petitioner, if granted bail, would not escape or hide from the law. He said the petitioner was ready to surrender his passport with the court and would have no objection if placed on the Exit Control List.

When asked by the court, the NAB counsel said the bureau had no objection if the petitioner was released on bail as investigation had been completed.

At this, the bench headed by Justice Malik Shahzad Ahmad Khan allowed the bail to Mr Butt and directed him to deposit two surety bonds of Rs1 million each.

Published in Dawn, January 24th, 2019