Court orders to release Fawad Chaudhry

Islamabad: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) Monday granted bail after arrest to former federal minister Fawad Chaudhry in the Jhelum Pind Dadan Khan Project corruption case and ordered his release.

Chief Justice Aamer Farooq and Justice Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri heard the bail application, while lawyer Qaiser Imam appeared in the court on behalf of Fawad Chaudhry.

Lawyer Qaiser Imam argued that an arrest warrant was issued on December 18, 2023, Fawad Chaudhry has been charged with five accusations.

He said that it is alleged that Fawad Chaudhry has used political influence in the project.

Prosecutor Rafi Maqsood told the court that they have a witness who says that Fawad Chaudhry took a bribe of Rs5 million, on which Chief Justice Aamer Farooq inquired how Rs5 million comes under the jurisdiction of National Accountability Bureau (NAB).

The NAB prosecutor took the stand that the case is still at the inquiry stage, they are getting more details, they have written to all the relevant institutions.

Chief Justice Amir Farooq inquired if NAB wrote for the evidence later and arrested the accused first? What is the main evidence against Fawad Chaudhry with NAB?

He got angry when the NAB prosecutor referred to the Supreme Court decision and remarked: ‘Leave the Supreme Court, tell the evidence first’.

Later, the Islamabad High Court granted Fawad Chaudhry's bail plea.

It is pertinent to note Fawad Chaudhry is imprisoned in Adiala Jail on judicial remand in the NAB case, he had filed a post-arrest bail application.

It is pertinent to note Fawad Chaudhry is imprisoned in Adiala Jail on judicial remand in the NAB case, he had filed a post-arrest bail application.

Notably, earlier on December 16, 2023, the NAB issued an arrest warrant for former federal minister Fawad Chaudhry in the Jhelum Pind Dadan Khan Road case, while the District and Sessions Court of Islamabad had allowed the execution of the warrant.

On December 20, the Accountability Court of Islamabad approved the 10-day physical remand of former federal minister Fawad Chaudhry in the case of Pind Dadan Khan, Jhelum-du-Rawiya road construction, corruption in land purchase, and handed him over to NAB custody.

Later, on December 30, the court approved the six-day physical remand of PTI leader Fawad in case related to Pind Dadan Khan, construction of Jhelum-du-Rawiya road and corruption in purchase of land.

On January 5, the accountability court of Islamabad approved the four-day physical remand of former federal minister Fawad Chaudhry in the case of embezzlement in the construction projects of Jhelum. Similarly, physical remand of three days was also granted on January 9 and 12 separately.

On March 7, the Islamabad High Court had reserved Thursday for Fawad Chaudhry's family to meet him in jail.

On March 11, the Accountability Court of Islamabad extended the judicial remand of former federal minister Fawad Chaudhry till March 26 in the case of violation of construction projects in Jhelum.