Court approves PTI leader Fawad’s transitory remand

Lahore: A court in Lahore Wednesday approved the transitory remand of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Fawad Chaudhry after medical checkup when he was presented before a magistrate by the Islamabad Police after arrest from his residence in the wee hours today.

According to details, the judicial magistrate Rana Mudassir heard the case in a court in Lahore’s Cantt.

During the hearing, the prosecutor told the court that a case had been registered against PTI leader by Islamabad police and also pleaded to approve the transitory remand of former minister.

Chaudhry’s lawyer responded that there was no need for the transitory remand and the travel time is of four hours between Lahore and Islamabad.

The counsel said: "Police wants to take the transitory remand of his client so they could take him somewhere else".

He also urged the court to order the police to cuff only one hand of his client.

The lawyer also told the court that the transitory remand should not be approved until the hearing of his client in a habeas corpus plea in high court.

The magistrate adjourned the hearing for few minutes.

After resumption, the court approved the transitory remand of Fawad Chaudhry to transfer him to Islamabad after the medical checkup.

He had been shifted to the Services Hospital Lahore for the checkup.

Hibba Fawad’s Statement

PTI leader’s wife Hibba Fawad condemned the alleged ‘illegal’ detention of his husband and former federal minister, terming the arrest as “abduction”.

While talking to GNN, Chaudry’s wife stated: “Neither we know where they took Fawad nor if he is being tortured,” stressing that she has no idea if he is actually taken into custody as the officials arrested him without a warrant. 

She added, “I don't know whether those people were police officers or not,” alleging “even thieves can wear uniforms”.

Hibba said that the family was unaware of Fawad’s location. “We are also not being given any details of the First Information Report (FIR) registered against him”.

“We also tried to find out from the Prime Minister's office, but no one is telling me anything,” she further added.

Terming the arrest “abduction”, Hibba Fawad asserted that she will fight this battle in court.

Fawad’s wife was talking on the phone when the connection was suddenly cut off at around 5:45am. Later, the staff informed her that her husband has been arrested.

She then urged that with the support of media channels, I am requesting the Chief Justice of Pakistan to take notice of this and recover her husband.

A case has been registered against PTI leader in Kohsar Police Station on the complaint of Secretary Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) Umar Hameed 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 (PPC).