KARACHI: The Sindh High Court granted protective bail to former Sindh Chief Minister Mumtaz Ali Bhutto on Wednesday who had been booked for his alleged involvement in the murder of a Larkana resident said to be associated with the Pakistan People’s Party. Mumtaz Ali Bhutto, who has parted ways with the ruling Pakistan Muslim League -N and revived dysfunctional Sindh National Front in August this year, faces charges of instigating the murder. A single bench comprising Justice Shahnawaz Tariq approved the 10-day protective bail for Bhutto against the surety bond of Rs100,000. The bench ruled that the bail would cease to effect on Dec 09. The applicant appeared before the judge and submitted that he was innocent and has been implicated in a false and fabricated case. The FIR was registered with ulterior motives at the behest of his political rivals, he added. Bhutto, represented by Advocate Sadiq Tanoli, said that he wanted to surrender before the trial court and face charges but he apprehended his arrest as the police has already cordoned off his Larkana residence. On Nov 29, the police had registered an FIR (19/2016) at Keti Mumtaz police station on the complaint of deceased’s Brother Muhammad Punhal Khuhro. The complainant accused Momin, Mor Narejo, Zahid Merani, and Imamdin Narejo, of murdering his brother Asadullah Khuhro at the instances of Mumtaz Ali Bhutto.