Islamabad Court Approves Two-Day Physical Remand Of Fawad Chaudhry

A district and sessions court of the federal capital granted police a two-day physical remand of PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry, following his arrest for threatening the Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa governors and the Election Commission.

Announcing the reserved verdict, Duty Magistrate Naveed Khan adjourned the hearing of the case until Friday (Jan 27).

The court rejected the investigation officer’s plea to grant an eight-day physical remand of the accused.

Earlier today, the Lahore High Court dismissed a plea filed against Fawad’s ‘illegal detainment’. During the hearing, Inspector General of Punjab Police had apprised the court that the accused was currently under the custody of Islamabad police.

Dismissing the petition filed by Fawad’s counsel, LHC had observed that the detention was “not illegal”. The court subsequently asked the counsel to approach Islamabad High Court to pursue the matter.

LHC earlier ordered police to produce the accused in the court, while summoning the Islamabad and Punjab inspector generals (IGs) of police.

The party stalwart was taken into custody after his statement that the governors will be put to trial under Article 6 for their failure to announce a date for the elections as enshrined in the Constitution, and that those at the helm will be given an exemplary punishment and chased to their homes for their doing.

Fawad also brought to the Lahore’s Cantt court where the police were allowed his transit remand.

The PTI leader’s brother claimed that he was taken away in cars that did not have any number plates on them, and that the family was unaware of his location.

He was apprehended from his residence, with Islamabad police confirming the arrest in Lahore on their behalf.

Fawad’s wife Hiba alleged that her husband was ‘kidnapped’ by policemen from the family’s home.

A case against the PTI leader was registered on Jan 24 at the Kohsar police station on the complaint of the secretary ECP, Omer Hamid Khan. The FIR lodged in this regard stated that Fawad hurled verbal threats at the Commission and its members in a public speech to media last night.

Fawad’s remarks

“In the absence of 65 percent lawmakers in the assemblies, there’s no constitutional setup in the country as of now,” Fawad had claimed on Tuesday night.

He had demanded ‘restoration’ of the Constitution to revive the confidence of the masses. “The only way out of this and other issues is to hold national elections.”

He had also said that by not announcing fresh elections, the governors and ECP were “acting in violation of the Constitution”.

Fawad had stated, “whenever it gets the opportunity” will ensure to “tighten their necks with the noose provided by the Constitution”.

“Those at the helm will be ensured an exemplary punishment and they will be chased to their homes.”

Meanwhile, ECP denotified 43 members of the National Assembly who were elected on PTI’s ticket.