ISLAMABAD: A local court on Saturday approved a five-day physical remand of television anchor Dr Shahid Masood into the Federal Investigation Agency’s (FIA) custody.
A day earlier, the FIA had arrested Masood in relation to the Pakistan Television (PTV) corruption case from the premises of the Islamabad High Court (IHC).
Masood, who was appointed PTV chairman during the tenure of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) government, is accused of corruption worth around Rs33 million.
During the hearing on Saturday, Masood’s lawyer argued that there was no need for a 10-day physical remand of his client as per the FIA’s request.
“What is the need for a 10-day physical remand? More than 24-hour remand should not be given,” Masood’s lawyer Shah Khawar said.
At this, the judge asked an FIA official present in the court if the agency had finished conducting an investigation.
“The suspect did not surrender himself. A few things are still left to be investigated,” the FIA official told the court.
The FIA official further told the court, “This is the first remand of Masood, who was arrested from Islamabad High Court after his application for bail was rejected”.
The court then approved a five-day physical remand of the anchorperson and ordered the FIA to submit a report regarding its investigation into the corruption case. The court also instructed that the medical report of the anchor be presented at the next hearing. The judge further ordered that Masood be presented on November 28.
