LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) has approved the bail application of Interior Minister Rehman Malik on Tuesday.

The accountability court Rawalpindi had sentenced Malik three years imprisonment in each of two cases. Interior minister had filed a petition against the decision.

A division bench headed by LHC Chief Justice Khawaja Muhammad Sharif while hearing the application said the sentence awarded in absentia could not be suspended through an application filed under section 426 of criminal code.

The court has directed Rehman Malik to file a new petition under article 199 of constitution. He than filed a new petition for suspension of the punishment. The court has suspend the sentence and granted the bail on fresh application.

The court also directed Rehman Malik to submit bond of one lac each in both the cases and present two guarantors.