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Bail for 'death probe' minister | |
(about 1 hour later) | |
A Pakistani minister being investigated in connection with the death of a woman in Islamabad has been granted bail. | |
The court decision came a day after federal Communications Minister Shahid Jamil Qureshi resigned from his post. | |
Mr Qureshi "illegally detained" Kafila Siddiqui, a 40-year-old Canadian woman of Pakistani origin, her family said. | Mr Qureshi "illegally detained" Kafila Siddiqui, a 40-year-old Canadian woman of Pakistani origin, her family said. |
She was pronounced dead on Saturday after the minister took her to hospital in Islamabad. Cause of death is unclear and post mortem results are awaited. | She was pronounced dead on Saturday after the minister took her to hospital in Islamabad. Cause of death is unclear and post mortem results are awaited. |
Mr Qureshi said she was a friend and he found her dehydrated in her room. | Mr Qureshi said she was a friend and he found her dehydrated in her room. |
'Innocent' | 'Innocent' |
At a news conference in Islamabad on Tuesday, Mr Qureshi said he had done nothing wrong but was stepping down. | |
"I have handed in my resignation to the prime minister because I don't want to give the impression I'm using my official capacity as a state minister to influence the case," Mr Qureshi told reporters. | |
"I will face all legal proceeding against me and time will tell that I'm innocent." | "I will face all legal proceeding against me and time will tell that I'm innocent." |
How Mrs Siddiqui, who ran a consultancy firm, died is unclear. | How Mrs Siddiqui, who ran a consultancy firm, died is unclear. |
Mr Qureshi took her to Islamabad's Pakistan Institute of Sciences hospital on Saturday, where doctors pronounced her dead on arrival. | Mr Qureshi took her to Islamabad's Pakistan Institute of Sciences hospital on Saturday, where doctors pronounced her dead on arrival. |
"She had bruises on her neck and chest," Dr Farrukh Kamal told the BBC. But he also said that the bruises were not her cause of death. | "She had bruises on her neck and chest," Dr Farrukh Kamal told the BBC. But he also said that the bruises were not her cause of death. |
According to the minister, Kafila Siddiqui was an old college friend he had been helping out, and they had been sharing the same house in the capital. | According to the minister, Kafila Siddiqui was an old college friend he had been helping out, and they had been sharing the same house in the capital. |
But Mrs Siddiqui's family allege she was kept in "illegal custody" by the minister. | But Mrs Siddiqui's family allege she was kept in "illegal custody" by the minister. |
They say they had been trying to contact her for four months, without success. | They say they had been trying to contact her for four months, without success. |
Police say a formal investigation has been launched into the case. | Police say a formal investigation has been launched into the case. |
Mr Qureshi's name has been placed on a list of people not allowed to leave the country. | Mr Qureshi's name has been placed on a list of people not allowed to leave the country. |
Police have also confirmed to the BBC that Interpol asked them to investigate the allegations by Mrs Siddiqui's family that she was being held by the minister against her will. | Police have also confirmed to the BBC that Interpol asked them to investigate the allegations by Mrs Siddiqui's family that she was being held by the minister against her will. |
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