Shahid Masood granted bail in PTV corruption case
56
The Supreme Court on Monday granted bail to anchorperson Shahid Masood against surety bonds worth Rs500,000 in a case pertaining to embezzlement of Rs38 million from state-run broadcaster Pakistan Television.
According to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), Dr Masood during his tenure as managing director and chairman of PTV was involved in the embezzlement of Rs37 million in acquiring Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) media rights in 2008.
The agreement was allegedly carried out with a fake company — M/s International Sports Solution (ISS). Investigators claim that funds were also released, causing the loss of millions of dollars to PTV as the state-run television channel failed to acquire PCB media rights from 2008 to 2013.
A two-member bench headed by Justice Manzoor Ahmed accepted Masood's bail application today.
The anchorperson stated in his appeal that he is a "blunt" analyst and critic of government policies, due to which he has been "a target of governmental institutions".
The plea noted that although the FIA had shut the case, it was reopened in 2015. "Suspects Kashif Rabbani, Fawad Shabbir and Roshan Gilani are all facing trial and have also started paying back the embezzled amount," the bail plea added.
The anchor accused the FIA of harassing him and not being able to come up with any proof against him.
Masood added that the Islamabad High Court (IHC) had rejected his request for bail without examining the facts of the case as his name "was not mentioned in the first investigation report".
On December 23 last year, Masood was arrested from the premises of the IHC by the FIA after the court dismissed his petition.
Read more
On DawnNews
Comments (56) Closed
Jan 28, 2019 12:53pm
Best news today. I have stopped supporting IK because what he did to Dr. Shahid Masood. He is the lone Ranger... Stand Tall Dr Sahib
Recommend
0
Jan 28, 2019 12:54pm
He seem to have commuted bigger crime then PPP,PML(N).
Like ,A.Z,N.S,SS,
Recommend
0
Jan 28, 2019 12:57pm
Very good decision
Recommend
0
Jan 28, 2019 12:58pm
Very Bad. He should be in Jail till conviction. If he is declared innocent than he should be released with all respect or else he should be in prison to serve his verdict.
Recommend
0
Jan 28, 2019 01:01pm
Very nice interesting up dates
Recommend
0
Jan 28, 2019 01:04pm
Great news indeed. I hope now Dr SM will also take care while "speaking" in air!!
Recommend
0
Jan 28, 2019 01:09pm
Our courts are only interested in corruption cases and take actions immediately but no action taken general cases of ordinary people who are suffering for years and no one bother to make decisions.
Recommend
0
Jan 28, 2019 01:19pm
What a shame?
Recommend
0
Jan 28, 2019 01:30pm
Good decision ... people with billions & trillions of rupees corruption charges & conviction are enjoying leisured life while an anchor is facing the music for mere 27 million blame ...
Recommend
0
Jan 28, 2019 01:36pm
Previous gov had tried many times to destroy his reputation and popularity.
Recommend
0
Jan 28, 2019 01:40pm
Arrested in November, not December,
Recommend
0
Jan 28, 2019 01:48pm
This is stern warning to Dr. Shahid Masood by Imran Khan's administration in order to prevent him from divulging crime and corruption. Only fake journalists like Hamid Mir and Rauf Klasra who are prepared to dance on the tunes of leaders unless you don't meet their conditions. Even for Imran Khan honest anchors like Dr. Shahid Masood are not acceptable. A journalist par excellence
Recommend
0
Jan 28, 2019 01:50pm
@Asad Mahmud, You are so right
Recommend
0
Jan 28, 2019 01:50pm
@gauhar mir, Excellent
Recommend
0
Jan 28, 2019 01:50pm
@Javaid Ahmed , He deserves a bail
Recommend
0
Jan 28, 2019 01:56pm
Good
Recommend
0
Jan 28, 2019 02:03pm
His biggest crime is that he did not loot billions of rupees otherwise he could be a champion of democracy or he did not lease petrol station for peanut price otherwise he could be champion of freedom of media.
Recommend
0
Jan 28, 2019 02:04pm
Finally sense has prevailed.
Recommend
0
Jan 28, 2019 02:25pm
It is still a mystery why Dr Masood was detained over two months and his bail was earlier denied without any definite reason?
Recommend
0
Jan 28, 2019 02:27pm
Now it's time to reveal the real skeletons in the media's dirty closets.
Recommend
0
Jan 28, 2019 02:33pm
Good news
Recommend
0
Jan 28, 2019 02:43pm
What??
Recommend
0
Jan 28, 2019 03:01pm
In my view, bail should have been granted long time ago - this is another example of double standards. Why corrupt politicians, dishonest bueaucrates and greedy businessmen have their way and get reliefs from courts? Is it all about fame and money and, if so then there are serious flaws in our judicial system that need to be corrected quickly to restore TRUST.
Recommend
0
Jan 28, 2019 03:15pm
At last supreme court decided that he should not remain in custody. He should have given pre-arrest bail when there is no proof against him.
Recommend
0
Jan 28, 2019 03:16pm
A lesson being taught to those against corruption to remain silent or they will be treated like Dr Shahid Masood.
Recommend
0
Jan 28, 2019 03:34pm
Alhamdulliah
Recommend
0
Jan 28, 2019 03:49pm
Every judge should have real-time access to the criminal background and history of defendants who appear in their courtrooms - so that sentencing and bail decisions can be made with that information.... the bottom line a rich can offord the bail but a poor cannot although he might have commited a petty crime...
Recommend
0
Jan 28, 2019 03:59pm
Shahid Masood is one who is called a "news maker". When there is no news, he cooks it up.
Recommend
0
Jan 28, 2019 04:16pm
Truth triumphs
Recommend
0
Jan 28, 2019 04:50pm
A Dawn News Editor should have corrected the following mistakes in this news of Mr. HB: 1. Pakistani journalist & TV anchor Dr. Shahid Masood Khan was illegally arrested on 23 November 2018, not on December 23, at the IHC complex by the corrupt FIA/police. 2. Was it an embezzlement of Rs37 million or Rs38 million? 3. The Dawn Reporter should have pointed out in his news report that the evil police, FIA, government's attorneys/advocates (prosecutors) and PTV have failed to present any legal, prosecutable evidence in any court of law to prove their false, fabricated and malicious allegations against Dr. Shahid in the PTV corruption case. Therefore, instead of granting bail, Pakistan Supreme Court's 2 judges should have declared all fake charges against Dr. Shahid Masood as null and void and dismissed the FIA case against him because he was unlawfully framed in the PTV case to suppress his freedom of speech, to stifle freedom of the press-media, and to shut down his critical TV programs.
Recommend
0
Jan 28, 2019 05:27pm
Finally!
Recommend
0
Jan 28, 2019 05:31pm
Sooner or later, his bail from the Supreme Court of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan was going to be granted as he could not be kept behind bars for good.
Recommend
0
Jan 28, 2019 06:00pm
As soon as he is clear he should counter sue for all the hassle he has gone through.
Recommend
0
Jan 28, 2019 06:15pm
Welcome back. The mafia is crumbling and you have to nail it. Good luck. The
Recommend
0
Jan 28, 2019 06:22pm
Alhumdulila
Recommend
0
Jan 28, 2019 07:40pm
Well-deserved bail, belated though.
Recommend
0
Jan 28, 2019 07:56pm
Him and Orya Maqbool considered to be the most honest and pious TV personalities.
Recommend
0
Jan 28, 2019 08:11pm
Poor Shahid Masood seems to be in the news for all the wrong reasons.
Recommend
0
Jan 28, 2019 08:13pm
@Waqar SHAH, well said and I second you.
Recommend
0
Jan 28, 2019 08:33pm
A great decision welcome.
Recommend
0
Jan 28, 2019 09:01pm
Why always supreme court? Why can't the lower courts dispense the timely justice? The 99% of Pakistani can even afford to knock the door of Supreme Court?
Recommend
0
Jan 28, 2019 09:07pm
I cannot think of any better thing to say but print Billy Joels song's lyrics. This my expectation and to honor Dr. Shahid Masood. Please treat the lyrics as gender neutral.
"Don't go changing to try and please me
You never let me down before
Don't imagine you're too familiar
And I don't see you anymore
I wouldn't leave you in times of trouble
We never could have come this far
I took the good times; I'll take the bad times
I'll take you just the way you are
Don't go trying some new fashion
Don't change the color of your hair
You always have my unspoken passion
Although I might not seem to care
I don't want clever conversation
I never want to work that hard
I just want someone that I can talk to
I want you just the way you are
I need…
Recommend
0
Jan 28, 2019 09:58pm
DR is treated harsher then the looters of Pakistan, pmln,PPP,who destroyed the future of generations of Pakistan!
Recommend
0
Jan 28, 2019 10:23pm
@Waqar SHAH, IK was not responsible for what happened, it was the judiciary, and no one followed IK's order about hand coughs and release. Some one extremely close to both Nawaz and Zardari clan was behind this. Dr. Sahibs contribution towards nada Pakistan is unprecedented. That's why we respect and love him.
Recommend
0
Jan 28, 2019 10:47pm
Dr. Shahid Masood, a prominent citizen of this country has suffered in this rotten system causing irreparable damage to his health and reputation, the people who have robbed the nation to enrich themselves and damaged the future of this country are on bail and on production orders living in their luxurious abodes with full protocol, best healthcare, all at public expense. Might as well shut down the accountability and the justice system
Recommend
0
Jan 28, 2019 10:48pm
I agree with you all. There is one journalist who is truly honest to our country in calling spade as spade.
Bravo and hope and pray that Shahid Masood will be victorious.
Recommend
0
Jan 28, 2019 11:26pm
@Waqar SHAH, .. what PTI or IK had to do with his arrest ?.. come out of pmln and ppp govts mindset.... PTI cannot dictate like ns and Zardari did and destroyed institutes.. PTI is letting judiciary do their job independently... now learn to live like this... institutes are getting free
Recommend
0
Jan 28, 2019 11:27pm
@Waqar SHAH, why are you blaming IK - did he bring the PTV case on dr Shahid Masood?
Recommend
0
Jan 29, 2019 12:33am
@Asad Mahmud, it shows how the law works in Pakistan. No one dare to touch big fish.
Recommend
0
Jan 29, 2019 01:12am
Yes. He deserves to get bail but he still needs to stand Trail to clear his name. Getting bail does not mean that a person is innocent of the charge against him.
Shahid Masood is not a qualified journalist and is notorious for using innuendo in his guftagoo. He has been referred to as Dr. Sazish Masood in the past. He has become an expert at getting good ratings for the channels he has worked for and is in demand by channel owners because he attracts viewers. However his modus operende is questionable.
Recommend
0
Jan 29, 2019 01:17am
Shahid Masood has already been proven a liar in a previous case before the highest court in the land.
Recommend
0
Jan 29, 2019 01:44am
Noooooo.... put him back in jail.
Recommend
0
Jan 29, 2019 02:53am
Gud decision by courts.
We all suppprt Dr.Shahid Masood.
Credible n honest person.
He will soon be victorious.. those who put false cases against him will go to jail soon inshAllah..
Recommend
0
Jan 29, 2019 03:25am
Why the hell are the courts granting bail to these corrupt individuals. These people should rot in jail.
Recommend
0
Jan 29, 2019 04:06am
here goes the justice - this person should have been in prison for many many years to come ..... i am disappointed - very disappointed
Recommend
0
Jan 29, 2019 03:53pm
Thanks SCP. Now we shall be able to hear true analysis of governess of this new PTI govt. Sir we were missing you very much. hope to see/ hear you soon.
Recommend
0
