SC grants bail to Shahid Masood in PTV corruption case

Former PTV MD is accused of embezzling Rs37 million

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court (SC) on Monday granted bail to anchorperson and former Pakistan Television (PTV) managing director Shahid Masood in a corruption case.

Masood is accused of embezzling Rs37 millions by allotting contracts to fake companies during his tenure as managing director of the state-run broadcaster.

The bail was granted after submission of surety bonds of Rs500,000. A bench comprising Justice Manzoor Malik and Justice Sardar Tariq Masood heard the application and noted that three accused had been granted bail by a trial court.

"The attorney general has said the interim challan does not include Masood’s name nor is his name mentioned in the FIR lodged on December 15, 2015. Neither Masood nor his family can be linked to the companies,” the bench added.



According to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), 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 2018, a local court sent Masood on a five-day judicial remand to Adiala Jail pertaining to the same case. Shortly after, the FIA arrested him from Islamabad High Court (IHC) premises after his pre-arrest bail petition was dismissed.

In December, the IHC rejected the anchorperson bail plea.