SC orders to release Dr Shahid Masood on bail

ISLAMABAD: Approving anchorperson Dr Shahid Masood’s bail plea, the Supreme Court on Monday ordered his release on bail in the PTV corruption case, reported ARY News.

A two-judge bench headed by Justice Manzoor Ahmad Malik ordered Masood’s release against bail bonds amounting to Rs 500,000.

During the hearing, the court observed that three other suspects in the case were already granted bail by a trail court.

On Nov 23, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) had arrested Masood after the Islamabad High Court rejected his bail plea and he was shifted to Adiala jail on judicial remand.

He is accused of embezzling Rs 37 million during his tenure as managing director of PTV, and awarding contracts to a fake company. According to the FIA, Masood paid the company a sum of more than Rs3 million at the time of the agreement as the firm was registered in Lahore and provided catering services.

On Jan 10, an accountability court had deferred indictment of Masood. The judge had deferred the indictment after Masood’s counsel raised objections on certain charges added to a challan against his client.