' MUHAMMAD KHALID ALVI, J.--- Muhammad Abdullah petitioner seeks bail after arrest in case F.I.R.
No,1 of 2007 dated 13-3-Z007 for offences under sections 32, 32-A, 14, 14-A, 156(1) of Customs Act, 1969 registered at Police Station Investigation and Prosecution Branch, Collectorate of Customs, Multan.
2. Precise allegation against the petitioner, according to F.I.R. And investigation conducted by the Investigating Officer is that during period from 13-6-2006 to 20-11-2006 petitioner had been working as Examining Officer at Air Freight Unit, Multan. During the course of audit of the period between January, 2005 to November, 2006 it transpired that petitioner had been furnishing reports of examination which were incorrect and were mala fide in connivance with the importers and the Clearing Agents, as a result thereof huge amount of revenue was evaded and loss to the national exchequer was caused.
3. It is submitted that petitioner is behind the bars since 7-6-2007; that position of the trial is that so far charge has not been framed; that principal accused Sheikh Fayyaz Hussain has already been allowed bail by this Court vide order, dated 24-2-2009; that other two co-accused namely Manzoor and Anees-ur-Rehman have also been allowed bail by the learned Custom Judge on 28- 3-2009 and that case of the petitioner is almost identical to that of other co-accused.
4. On the other hand, learned Deputy Attorney-General has opposed this bail application.
5. I have considered the arguments of the learned counsel for the parties.
6. Petitioner is behind the bars for the last about 1-3/4 years and trial has not progressed, even charge has not been framed. All co-accused, already been allowed bail either by this Court or by the learned trial Court. No useful purpose can be served to keep the petitioner behind the bars from unlimited period, when particularly trial is not progressing. In this view of the matter, this application is allowed. Petitioner is accordingly admitted to bail submit to his furnishing bail bonds in the sum of Rs,10,00,000 (Rupees one million only) with two sureties each in the like amount to the satisfaction of learned trial Court.