Dr Shahid Masood fled from a special court of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to avoid arrest on Thursday after the judge dismissed his plea for pre-arrest bail in a case pertaining to his alleged involvement in embezzlement of Rs 38 million in the Pakistan Television (PTV).
Islamabad District Court had in June issued non-bailable warrants for the arrest of PTV former chairman following a request by the FIA. He had subsequently appeared before the court and obtained an interim bail. However, Special Judge Central Kamran Basharat Mufti on Thursday rejected the application for confirmation of pre-arrest bail and directed the authorities to arrest Dr Masood and present him before the court.
According to the prosecution, Dr Masood had signed an agreement with a fake company to negotiate with the Pakistan Cricket Board for grant of rights to the PTV for coverage of matches played in Pakistan. Because of the agreement, the PTV had to face heavy losses.
Dr Masood was appointed chairman of PTV during the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) government.
Published in Daily Times, October 26th 2018.
