Pakistan’s ex-president granted bail on health grounds

KARACHI, Pakistan

A Pakistani court on Wednesday granted bail to the country's former President Asif Ali Zardari on health grounds, court record and local media reported.

A two-judge bench of the Islamabad High Court, led by Chief Justice Athar Minallah, directed the jail authorities to release the ailing former president against a surety bond of 10 million Pakistani rupees ($64,580), local broadcaster Geo News reported.

Zardari's son and chairman of center-left Pakistan People's Party (PPP) Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, who himself was present in the court, welcomed the judgement.

"We are thankful to the court for this verdict," he told reporters