ORDER MUHAMMAD AQIL MIRZA, J.- This is a part heard case. At the very outset, Mr. Ijaz Hussain Batalvi, learned counsel for the petitioner has placed on record notification dated 13.4.1995 whereby Provincial Assembly of the Punjab has been summoned to meet on 20th of April, 1995, and states that Mr. Pervaiz Elahi is the Acting Leader of the Opposition in the Punjab Assembly. He prays that ad-interim bail may be allowed to bim so that be may take part in the proceedings of the Assembly. To justify his request, he has pointed out that it is a lengthy matter and it will not possible to decide the case on merits before the aforesaid date. Mr. Zafar Pasha Chaudhry, learned Deputy Attorney General confirms that the case will take quite some Ume for decision on merits, because it pertains to the fraud committed in respect of 822 loanees.
2. The brief facts are that HR No. 1 of 1995 dated 30.1.1995 has been registered with Police Station FIA/SIU Islamabad under Sections 409, 420, 468, 471, 419 and 109 PPC read with Section 5 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1947 against Ch. Pervaiz Elachi petitioner and others. The FIR has bees registered by FIA, Islamabad in pursuance of inquiry No. 72 of 1994 conducted by FIA CBC, Lahore, oo the allegation that on 28.6.1992 and 29.6.1992 the Directors of Phalia Sugar Mills Limited, District Gujrat, namely Ch. Pervaiz Elachi., Ch. Gulzar Ahmad, Ch. Wajahat Hussain, Ch. Sahahat Elahi, Ch. Shafqat Hussain, Ch. Shujaat Hussain and Ch. Ghazanfar Ali in connivance with Noor-ul-Basar, Manager of Habib Bank Limited, Khatiala Branch and other officers of the Bank dishonestly and fraudulently got huge agricultural loan sanctioned on the basis of forged applications which loan was disbursed by four branches of Habib Bank Limited in various names contrary to the law. It is alleged that the loan applications bore forged signatures and infact the recipients of the loan were also bogus persons which earned wrongful loss of Rs.13.975/- million to the public exchequer and corresponding wrongful gain to the Phalia Sugar Mills Limited and its aforesaid Directors.
4. In view of the fact that it will take quite some time to decide the bail petition on merits, we are inclined to accept the prayer of the learned counsel for the petitioner for ad-interim bail, for the purpose of granting an opportunity to the petitioner to attend the proceeding of the forthcoming session of the Punjab Assembly. Accordingly the petitioner is admitted to ad-interim bail, subject to his furnishing bail bond in the sum of Rs.3.78 crore (Three Crore and Seventy Eight Lacs) with one surety in the like amount, to the satisfaction of Deputy Registrar (Judicial) of this Court. Adjourned to 28.5.1995.