ATTOCK, April 23: A former district forest officer (DFO) of Attock, who was declared a court absconder and proclaimed offender in the Rs9 million Hazro park scam, is still at large despite the passage of over four years.

Shad Mohammad Khan slipped out of a hospital during treatment under police custody on January 3, 2007. A special anti-corruption court declared him absconder in March 2007. Afterwards, he was also declared a proclaimed offender by the anti-corruption department. His immoveable property and other assets were attached on the directive of the court.

Mr Shad was arrested on June 23, 2006, by the anti-corporation department on the charge of misappropriating Rs9 million in the Hazro park project. Later, a judicial magistrate sent the accused to the district jail on judicial remand. While his bail applications were rejected by the local court and Lahore High Court’s Rawalpindi bench, he was admitted to DHQ Hospital Rawalpindi for medical check-up from where he fled. Since then the police have failed to trace the accused. Sources said the accused had escaped to the tribal areas to avoid arrest.— Our Correspondent