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HomeTrendingLHC orders to present Fawad Chaudhry even if he's taken to Islamabad

LHC orders to present Fawad Chaudhry even if he’s taken to Islamabad

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) directed the Punjab government Wednesday to present Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leader Fawad Chaudhry before it even if he was taken to Islamabad by the police.

Fawad was arrested from his residence earlier today after he publicly “threatened” the members of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP)  in a media talk outside Imran Khan’s residence in Zaman Park a day ago.

The LHC had ordered authorities to present Fawad before it in response to a petition filed by Fawad’s cousin, Nabeel Shehzad, for the “recovery” of the former federal minister.

The petitioner had filed a habeas corpus plea and urged the court to “recover” the PTI leader, after the Islamabad police acquired his transitory remand. He also appealed the court to stop any illegal action against the PTI leader.

Justice Tariq Saleem Sheikh heard the plea and ordered the authorities to present the PTI leader before the court by 1:30pm. The time was later extended to 2:00pm, but the authorities failed to produce Fawad before LHC.

Interestingly, the orders were issued after a local court of Lahore had approved Fawad’s transitory remand in a sedition case filed against him in Islamabad on the Election Commission’s complaint.

‘Bring back Fawad’: LHC justice 

At the resumption of the hearing at LHC, Fawad’s lawyer informed the court that the motorcade transporting Fawad has left for Islamabad.

The government’s lawyer said that he is unable to state Fawad’s exact location.

At this, Justice Tariq Saleem Sheikh asked the lawyer how long it will take for him to inquire about the location.

The lawyer said that he needs half an hour.

“Bring him back even if he is taken to Islamabad,” Justice Sheikh remarked before adjourning the hearing for a while.

Court approves transitory remand

Hours after Fawad’s arrest, the PTI leader was presented before the court of judicial magistrate Rana Mudassir in Lahore’s Cantt.

The former federal minister was presented before the court by the Islamabad Police to seek his transitory remand. 

At the outset of the hearing, the prosecution told the judge that Islamabad Police had registered a case against Fawad. The prosecution also urged the court to approve a transitory remand of the PTI leader.

At this, Fawad’s lawyer argued that the distance between Islamabad and Lahore was of just four hours and there was no need for the transitory remand.

“They [police] should just present him [before a court] in Islamabad,” said Fawad’s lawyer. The counsel claimed that the police wanted to get the transitory remand so they could take his client somewhere else.

The counsel also urged the judge to order the police to uncuff his client’s hands. Instead of both hands only one should be handcuffed, he added.

At this, the judge remarked that the lawyer was wasting the court’s time over frivolous arguments.

Fawad’s lawyer also told the magistrate that a habeas corpus plea was pending before a high court and till that is decided his client’s transitory remand should not be approved.

The magistrate then adjourned the hearing for a few minutes.

Once the hearing resumed, the court approved the transitory remand of the PTI leader to transfer Fawad to Islamabad and present him in a court of the federal capital. 

However, the police has been asked to conduct a medical of the PTI leader at Services Hospital before he is taken to Islamabad.  

Proud of the case: Fawad

Speaking to the media at the court, Fawad said that he is “proud” of the case that has been registered against him.

“Nelson Mandela also faced a similar case. It is being said that I committed treason,” he said.

The PTI leader said that he is a former federal minister and a Supreme Court lawyer therefore he should be treated respectfully.

“The way I was arrested was not appropriate,” he said, adding that he would have appeared before the police had they called him.

He went on to say that the entire country is saying what he said about the ECP.

The FIR

Confirming the arrest, Islamabad Police said that a case against Chaudhry was registered last night at the Kohsar Police Station in the federal capital on the complaint of ECP Secretary Omer Hamid Khan. 

The first information report (FIR) was lodged against him for using threatening language against the ECP and its members.

The FIR registered against Fawad Chaudhry. — Reporter

The PTI leader has been booked under sections 153-A (promotion of enmity between groups), 506 (criminal intimidation), 505 (statement conducing to public mischief) and 124-A (sedition) of the Pakistan Penal Code.

Sections 124-A and 153-A are non-bailable charges while an accused can get bail if charged under sections 505 and 506 of the PPC.

In his speech outside Imran Khan’s residence in Lahore, Fawad warned the ECP, its members and their families, according to the FIR.

The FIR states that Chaudhary said that the status of the election commission was reduced to that of a “Munshi [clerk]”.

Fawad said that those who become part of the caretaker government will be pursued until they are punished. He had said that the people sitting in the government would be pursued to their houses.

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