Court drama: APP officials escape after bail denial in corruption scandal

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published July 06, 2024 |  JP Staff Reporter

ISLAMABAD—The accused in a multi-million rupee corruption case involving the national news agency, Associated Press of Pakistan (APP), fled from the court on Thursday after their pleas for bail before arrest were rejected by a special judge.

The individuals involved, including APP's former IT Director and Project Director Muhammad Ghawas, former Manager Accounts Arshad Majeed Chaudhry, Deputy Director IT Musawar Imran, Chief Computer Engineer Saad Mudassar, and two other associates, are accused of flagrant violations in the procurement process related to the "Restructuring of News Operation by replacing outdated equipment with modern cutting-edge technology" project.

The accused had filed petitions seeking bail before arrest, hoping to avoid immediate detention. However, the special judge denied their requests, leading to a chaotic scene as the accused hastily left the courtroom to evade arrest.

The case has garnered significant attention due to the high-profile nature of the individuals involved and the substantial amount of money implicated in the corruption allegations. The project aimed to modernize APP's news operations, but the procurement process allegedly involved gross misconduct and violations of the law.

Sources within the judicial system have expressed concern over the ease with which the accused managed to escape, highlighting potential lapses in court security. The authorities are now under pressure to apprehend the fugitives and bring them to justice.

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