PHC grants transit bail to BRT contractor

PESHAWAR: The Peshawar High Court (PHC) on Wednesday granted transit bail to Syed Masood Shah, the contractor for the Peshawar Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project, and barred authorities from arresting him upon his return to Pakistan.

A two-member bench comprising Chief Justice Ishtiaq Ibrahim and Justice Wiqar Ahmad heard his petition.Masood Shah, who is currently residing abroad, feared arrest by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) upon his return.

His lawyer, Sadiq Ali Mohmand, informed the court that while his client was no longer wanted by NAB in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) following a settlement with the Provincial Development Authority (PDA), notices had been issued by NAB offices in other provinces, complicating his return to Pakistan.

The lawyer said that his client was scheduled to return to Pakistan on September 27, but feared he may be arrested upon arrival due to pending investigations in other provinces. He requested the court to grant Masood Shah bail to ensure he can appear before relevant authorities without being detained.

Deputy Prosecutor General Azim Dad, representing NAB, confirmed to the court that investigations against Masood Shah in KP had been concluded and there was no longer a need for his arrest in the province.

However, he said that Masood Shah faced separate inquiries in other provinces.After hearing arguments, the court granted Masood Shah transit bail until October 27 and directed the law-enforcement agencies not to arrest him upon his arrival in Pakistan.