 "Pak court grants Gilani bail in 12 graft cases")
Pakistan's former prime minister Yousuf Raza Gilani was today granted bail by an anti-corruption court in 12 graft cases against him.
The court granted bail to the 62-year-old Pakistan People's Party (PPP) leader until July 10.
"I respect the courts and that is why I have appeared in person before the anti-corruption court. I am thankful the court has heard me out and granted me bail as I am ready to appear again in any case," Gillani told reporters outside the court.
Gillani said he was wrongly accused of corruption and would fight to get his name cleared in all the cases.
A large number of Gilani's supporters were gathered outside the court. Some PPP leaders accompanied him to the Judge's chamber.
Gillani, who was Pakistan's Prime Minister from 2008 to 2012 and also Speaker of the National Assembly before that, appealed to current Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to ensure that the political opponents are not victimised.
The anti-corruption court had on June 2, issued non-bailable arrest warrants for Gillani and former Commerce Minister Amin Fahim for their alleged involvement in seven cases relating to an alleged scam running into multi-billion rupees in the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan.
They are accused of allegedly granted billions of rupees in subsidies to bogus trading companies.
The court granted bail to the 62-year-old Pakistan People's Party (PPP) leader until July 10.
"I respect the courts and that is why I have appeared in person before the anti-corruption court. I am thankful the court has heard me out and granted me bail as I am ready to appear again in any case," Gillani told reporters outside the court.
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The former premier has been accused of largescale corruption amounting to millions of rupees in 12 different cases by the National Accountability Bureau.
Gillani said he was wrongly accused of corruption and would fight to get his name cleared in all the cases.
A large number of Gilani's supporters were gathered outside the court. Some PPP leaders accompanied him to the Judge's chamber.
Gillani, who was Pakistan's Prime Minister from 2008 to 2012 and also Speaker of the National Assembly before that, appealed to current Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to ensure that the political opponents are not victimised.
The anti-corruption court had on June 2, issued non-bailable arrest warrants for Gillani and former Commerce Minister Amin Fahim for their alleged involvement in seven cases relating to an alleged scam running into multi-billion rupees in the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan.
They are accused of allegedly granted billions of rupees in subsidies to bogus trading companies.