Islamabad (Web Desk): A district and sessions court in Islamabad on Wednesday sent former federal minister Fawad Chaudhry to jail on 14-day judicial remand in a fraud case registered against him.
The former Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader was presented before Judicial Magistrate Yasir Mahmood by the Aabpara police today. The police sought a five-day extension in Fawad’s physical remand.
During the hearing, the judicial magistrate granted Fawad permission to consult with his legal team. Coming to the rostrum later, the former minister said today was his third appearance but the complainant had yet to appear before the court.
“Has he been threatened? I have police guards with me,” he said, adding that he had no connection with the complainant.
Meanwhile, the police submitted a written application in court seeking a five-day extension in Fawad’s physical remand.
The court reserved its verdict and later sent the former minister on judicial remand on 14-day In a written order, the court said “there seems no justification for grant of physical remand” and directed the police to present Chaudhry in court on November 22.
Speaking to the reporters today, Fawad said that there was a need for dialogue among all the political parties.
He said that if Nawaz Sharif wins the election in this manner, no one will support him. “What kind of a premier would he be?” the former minister asked.
Fawad Chaudhry was arrested from his residence in Islamabad on November 4 and later remanded in police custody after a fraud case was registered against him.
Zaheer Ahmed claimed to handed over a sum of Rs50 million to Fawad Chaudhry and when he asked to return the amount, Fawad allegedly offered him two government jobs in exchange, and later Fawad threatened him along with his two-armed guards.
According to the first information report (FIR), Fawad was arrested in a case registered at the Aabpara police station on August 22, 2022, under sections 109 (punishment of abetment if the Act abetted committed in consequence and where no express provision is made for its punishment), 186 (obstructing public servant in discharge of public functions), 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant), 341(punishment for wrongful restraint), and 506 (punishment for criminal intimidation) of the Pakistan Penal Code.
Fawad was one of several PTI leaders who had left the party following violent incidents on May 9, when party chief Imran Khan was arrested from the Islamabad High Court (IHC) premises.
While quitting the PTI, Fawad had stated that he was "taking a break from politics" but later, he was seen at the launching ceremony of the Jahangir Khan Tareen-led Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP) in June but later he kept quiet regarding his affiliation with the IPP.
