Lahore court approves transitory remand of PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry

A court in Lahore on Wednesday approved PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry’s transitory remand after he was presented before a magistrate by the Islamabad Police. 

The PTI leader was presented before the court of judicial magistrate Rana Mudassir in Lahore’s Cantt.

Fawad Chauhdry was apprehended from his residence Wednesday morning, after he publicly censured the government and the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) for scheming to arrest party chairman, Imran Khan.

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 the 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.

LHC approached over Fawad’s ‘recovery’ 

Meanwhile, Fawad’s cousin, Nabeel Shehzad, has filed a petition in the Lahore High Court for the “recovery” of the former federal minister.   

The petitioner has filed a habeas corpus plea and urged the court to “recover” the PTI leader. It also appealed the court to stop any illegal action against the PTI leader.

The petitioner has also urged the court to hold a hearing of the case today.  

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 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