LAHORE: The Lahore High Court on Wednesday summoned the Inspector Generals of Islamabad and Punjab Police for failing to produce Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Fawad Chaudhry.
Fawad was arrested from his residence earlier today after he publicly called the members of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) at a media talk outside Imran Khan’s residence in Zaman Park a day ago. Threatened.
The Lahore High Court had ordered the authorities to produce Fawad before it in response to a petition filed by Fawad’s cousin Nabil Shehzad for the “recovery” of the former federal minister.
After the Islamabad police obtained his interim remand, the petitioner had filed a habeas corpus petition and requested the court to “rehabilitate” the PTI leader. He also appealed to the court to stop any illegal action against the PTI leader.
Justice Tariq Saleem Shaikh heard the petition and ordered the authorities to produce the PTI leader in the court by half past one. Later, the time was extended till 2 pm, but the authorities failed to produce Fawad in the Lahore High Court.
Interestingly, these orders were issued when a local court in Lahore granted Fawad’s interim remand in a sedition case filed against him in Islamabad on a complaint by the Election Commission.
Bring back Fawad: Lahore High Court judge
When the hearing resumed in the Lahore High Court, Fawad’s lawyer told the court that the motorcycle carrying Fawad had left for Islamabad.
The government lawyer said that he was unable to tell Fawad’s exact location.
On this, Justice Shaikh asked the lawyer that how much time will it take to ask about the location?
The lawyer said that half an hour was required.
Before adjourning the hearing for some time, Justice Shaikh remarked that despite being taken to Islamabad, bring him back.
Lahore High Court summoned IG Punjab and Islamabad.
When the case started again, Justice Shaikh inquired where the PTI leaders are.
The government lawyer responded by saying that I have spoken to everyone and the PTI leaders are not in the custody of the Punjab Police.
Justice Shaikh replied to call the IG Punjab. After giving the remarks, the judge said that the police chief is not available at the moment.
After which the judge issued an order to IG Punjab and Islamabad to appear in the court at 6 pm.
Before issuing summons orders, Justice Shaikh remarked that first present Fawad and then I will listen.
Farrukh Habib tried to stop police convoy carrying Fawad.
PTI leader Farrukh Habib tried to stop the police convoy carrying Fawad Chaudhry at the Kala Shah Kaku Toll Plaza and in this attempt there was a scuffle with the police.
According to the details, Islamabad Police had shifted Fawad to the Services Hospital in Lahore for medical examination, after which he left for the federal capital despite the Lahore High Court’s order to produce him by 2 pm.
لاہور ہائیکورٹ کے واضح احکامات کو نظر انداز کرکے اسلام آباد کی جانب لیکر جارہے ہے
— PTI (@PTIofficial) January 25, 2023
کالا شاہ کاکو روک کر بھی پولیس کو دہائی دی ہے اسکے باوجود عدالتی احکامات نظر انداز کردئیے
ہمارے اوپر فائر بھی کیا-@FarrukhHabibISF #ReleaseFawadCh pic.twitter.com/UWX4wuYI3f
Farrukh was following the convoy and when he reached the toll plaza, there was a scuffle with the motorcycle. In videos shared on social media, PTI leaders and activists can be seen blocking the road and standing in front of a police vehicle to stop it from proceeding.
Court approves transitory remand
A few hours after Fawad’s arrest, the PTI leader was produced in the court of Judicial Magistrate Rana Mudassar in Lahore Cantt.
Islamabad Police produced the former federal minister in the court for interim remand.
At the beginning of the hearing, the prosecutor told the judge that the Islamabad police had registered a case against Fawad. The prosecution also requested the court to grant interim remand of the PTI leader.
Fawad’s lawyer gave arguments on this and said that the distance between Islamabad and Lahore is only four hours, there is no need for interim remand.
Fawad’s lawyer said that “they [the police] should only produce him [before the court] in Islamabad.” The lawyer claimed that the police wanted to get interim remand so that they could take his client elsewhere.
The lawyer urged the judge to order the police to release his client’s hands. He further said that instead of both hands, only one hand should be handcuffed.
On this, the judge remarked that the lawyers were wasting the time of the court on futile arguments.
Fawad’s counsel also told the magistrate that a habeas corpus petition is pending in the High Court and his client should not be granted interim remand until it is decided.
The magistrate then adjourned the hearing for a few minutes.
On resuming the hearing, the court approved the interim remand of the PTI leader to transfer Fawad to Islamabad and produce him in the court of the federal capital.
However, the police have been asked to get the PTI leader medically examined at Services Hospital before taking him to Islamabad.
Proud of the case: Fawad
Speaking to the media in court, Fawad said he was “proud” of the case filed against him.
He said that Nelson Mandela also faced a similar case. It is being said that I committed treason.
The PTI leader said that he is a former federal minister and advocate of the Supreme Court, so he should be treated with respect.
“The manner in which I was arrested was not appropriate,” he said.
He added that the whole country is saying what he said about ECP.
Imran Khan condemned the arrest and said
I will be doing media talk 4 pm today. Fawad’s arrest on his apt description of the CEC leaves no doubt in anyone’s mind that Pak has become a banana republic devoid of rule of law. We must stand up for our fundamental rights now to save Pak’s drift towards a point of no return.
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) January 25, 2023
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.
فواد چوہدری نے آئینی اداروں کے خلاف شرانگیزی پیدا کرنے اور لوگوں کے جذبات مشتعل کرنے کی کوشش کی ہے۔
— Islamabad Police (@ICT_Police) January 25, 2023
مقدمے پر قانون کے مطابق کارروائی عمل میں لائی جارہی ہے۔
2/2#ICTP
The PTI leader was booked under Sections 153-A (promoting enmity between groups), 506 (criminal intimidation), 505 (statement inciting public riot) and 124-A (treason) of the Pakistan Penal Code. has been done
Sections 124-A and 153-A are non-bailable charges while the accused is bailable when 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 Chowdhury said that the EC had been demoted to the rank of “minshi [clerk]”.
Fawad said that those who are part of the caretaker government will be pursued until they are punished. He had said that the people sitting in the government will be chased to their homes.
Fawad’s arrest comes amid an overnight turnout of PTI workers who rushed to party chairman Imran Khan’s residence to ensure his safety after it was claimed that the former government minister Planning to arrest Azam.
“The import government has gone berserk,” Farrukh Habib said in a tweet. The PTI leader also posted a video of Fawad being beaten by the police on social media.
فواد چوہدری کو پولیس نے ان کے گھر سے ابھی گرفتار کرلیا ہے۔ امپورٹڈ حکومت بوکھلاہٹ کا شکار ہوگئی ہے
— Farrukh Habib (@FarrukhHabibISF) January 25, 2023
پولیس کی یہ گاڑیاں فواد چوہدری کو گرفتار کرکے لے جارہی ہے pic.twitter.com/CJXiAHO3fQ
— Farrukh Habib (@FarrukhHabibISF) January 25, 2023
Islamabad police sources say that the PTI leader was arrested from his residence near Thokar Niaz Baig in Lahore.
PTI condemns arrest
Several party leaders condemned Fawad Chaudhry’s detention. PTI Sindh President Ali Haider Zaidi criticized the government over the arrest.
Strongly condemn the arrest of @fawadchaudhry by the #ImportedGovernmentNaManzoor
— Ali Haider Zaidi (@AliHZaidiPTI) January 25, 2023
Pakistan has become a lawless state at the hands of these lawbreaking lawmakers and corrupt law enforcement officers!
All hell bent on pushing this country towards anarchy!
“Pakistan has become a lawless state at the hands of these law-breaking lawmakers and corrupt law enforcement officers,” he tweeted.
Speaking to the press earlier in the night, Chaudhry strongly condemned the government’s actions and termed it as a nefarious conspiracy to destabilize the country. He called those involved in the conspiracy traitors.
اطلاعات ہیں کہ کٹھ پتلی حکومت آج رات چئیرمین عمران خان کو گرفتار کرنے کی کوشش کرے گی
— PTI (@PTIofficial) January 24, 2023
تحریک انصاف کے کارکنان اپنے لیڈر کی حفاظت کے لیے زمان پارک پہنچ رہے ہیں
Chaudhry said that if the police have courage and courage, they should come and arrest Imran Khan.
The arrest of @fawadchaudhry is CONDEMNABLE!
— Dr. Yasmin Rashid (@Dr_YasminRashid) January 25, 2023
It reflects the fascist madness this government is seized with.#ReleaseFawadCh pic.twitter.com/Ch4RGFJvmD
سچ کڑوا ہوتا ہے اور فواد سچ بولتا ہے. اس کی حراست کی بس یہی ایک وجہ ہے #ReleaseFawadChaudhry pic.twitter.com/8Z6kOH74mo
— Asad Umar (@Asad_Umar) January 25, 2023
Fawad Chaudhry’s brother arrested from Jhelum: Mazari
Senior PTI leader Shireen Mazari claimed that Fawad’s brother has been arrested from Jhelum.
Mazari said that democracy has ended and fear is being spread in the country.
“How many people will be silenced?” she asked in a press conference alongside Fawad’s wife.
Censuring the government, the PTI leader asked why are the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) and the government terrified.
She said that the ECP should file a defamation case if it has any issues.
Mazari, referring to President Dr Arif Alvi, asked him to speak up. “President should show his authority,” she added.
She said that President Alvi should stand for justice and for Pakistan and needs to take a position. “Its time for the president to stop this system,” she said.
