KARACHI: The Sindh High Court threw out the plea of former provincial information minister Sharjeel Inam Memon for urgent hearing of his two applications seeking pre-arrest bail in two corruption cases. A two-member bench headed by Justice Farooq Shah dismissed the application of the former minister due to the absence of his counsel. Memon, through his counsel, filed two fresh bail petitions seeking interim pre-arrest bail in two corruption cases. The PPP leader, who is living in self-exile in Dubai, faces two corruptions relating to alleged award of advertisements at exorbitant rates and illegal adjustment and consolidation of hundreds of acres of land in favour of a private housing project. Faiz Shah, Memon’s lawyer, stated that NAB had initiated inquiries against him and in this connection, the bureau had also issued call-up notices to him for his appearance before the investigating officer but due to his ailment he could not show up. He contended that the NAB had filed references against Memon without giving him an opportunity of fair hearing. He denied the allegations of Memon’s involvement in the cases and said that his client wanted to face corruption charges and surrender before the trial court. He, therefore, requested the judges to grant him pre-arrest bail so that he could appear before the trial court. The protective bail granted to the former provincial minister had ceased to have effect on Dec 26. The court had earlier extended his bail till Dec 26 subject to forfeiture of 50 percent of the surety amount deposited for his bail. The court had also increased the surety amount to Rs4million and warned that if he failed to surrender before the trial court within the stipulated time his surety would forfeited. The former information minister is facing charges of corruption in the award of advertisements at exorbitant rates, causing loss of over Rs5 billion to the national exchequer. Besides Memon, the NAB had nominated thirteen accused persons, including former information secretary Zulfiqar Ali Shalwani. The PPP leader has also been accused of getting the state land allotted and adjusted in 43 Dehs at throw-away prices for a property developer, depriving the public exchequer of billions of rupees in revenue. Meanwhile, the same bench cancelled the interim pre-arrest bail granted to former information secretary Zulfiqar Ali Shalwani over his continuous absence in the court. The high court had granted bail to Shelwani on July 03, 2015. The judges observed, “The bail granted to the petitioner, which is an interim relief, cannot be continued for indefinite period in these circumstances.”