IHC reserves verdict on Shahid Masood's bail plea

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Thursday reserved the verdict against anchorperson Dr Shahid Masood's bail plea in state-owned Pakistan Television Corruption Case.

Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kiyani presided over the hearing. The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) officer Kashif Awan told the court that no evidence over the exchange of funds has been found and no statement has been recorded by the co-accused.

Masood is accused of embezzling Rs37 million during his tenure as managing director of PTV and accused of allotting contracts to a fake company.



According to the FIA’s investigation, at the time of the agreement Masood paid the company a sum of over Rs3 million. The entity was registered in Lahore and provided catering services.

In November, a local court sent Masood on a five-day judicial remand to Adiala Jail pertaining to the same case. On November 23, The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) arrested Masood from IHC premises after his pre-arrest bail petition was dismissed.



During the hearing last month, Masood’s counsel Advocate Shah Khawar told the court that his client’s name was not included in the first information report (FIR). He added that he had signed the documents prepared by the legal advisor while the inquiry committee declared Masood responsible for an agreement with the fake company when he was not included in the inquiry and had resigned.