The District and Sessions Court on Friday reserved its verdict on the request of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to extend physical remand against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Senior Vice President Fawad Chaudhry in the sedition case. ).
The police requested the court to extend the remand saying that the remand is required for further investigation.
The PTI leader was produced in the Islamabad court on completion of his two-day physical remand in the sedition case.
Rejecting the eight-day physical remand of the former federal minister on behalf of the Islamabad Police, the court on Wednesday approved the two-day physical remand of the PTI leader in the sedition case.
Following this order, the capital police shifted the former federal information minister to the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) complex in Sector H-11.
The police – at the time the verdict was reserved – also took Fawad to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), where he was medically examined and declared fit.
The former federal minister vehemently denied all the allegations and demanded that the case be dropped as it was “a fraud and the FIR is a hoax”.
Fawad’s lawyers told the court that the charges were politically motivated and since the PTI leader had given his statement in Lahore, his case should have been registered in the city and not in Islamabad.
The PTI leader was arrested from his Lahore residence on Wednesday morning after he openly “threatened” Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) members and their families in a media talk a day earlier. was
His arrest drew criticism from within the ranks of the federal government – which, however, has denied involvement.
Today’s hearing
The hearing of the case is ongoing in the court of Judicial Magistrate Waqas Ahmed Raja. ECP lawyer Saad Hasan and PTI lawyers Babar Awan, Faisal Chaudhry and Ali Bukhari were also present.
During the hearing, the prosecutor remarked that Fawad was spreading hatred against the constitutional institution and was also trying to spread unrest.
“This statement is a threat to the lives of ECP members,” the prosecutor said, requesting an extension of physical remand.
Fawad’s voice matches and his photographic test is to be conducted in Lahore, he said, adding that physical remand is required for further investigation.
The Investigating Officer (IO) highlighted that the court granted remand for two days at 12 am, so “practically” the police had only one day.
The ECP counsel told the magistrate that Fawad’s statement was “on record” and the PTI leader “owns his speech as well”.
The prosecutor argued that since the accused had confessed, no one could object to the speech.
Vakil Hasan said the PTI leader “tried to spread hatred, made allegations against the government” and called the ECP a “clerk” of the coalition government.
Fawad’s statement was representative of a group, he said, adding that a campaign was being launched against not only the election body but all the top officials of the ECP.
He further said that the role of the Election Commission is very important in the next few months. He further said that ‘ECP’s job is to end corruption but Fawad is putting pressure’.
The prosecutor said it was “necessary” to search the PTI leader’s residence to seize his mobile phone and laptop.
He reminded that the duty magistrate had rejected the plea of acquittal from the case in the previous hearing.
Awan criticized the Election Commission, saying the electoral body was “representing a political party”.
‘The statement was party policy’
Fawad took the rostrum during the hearing and said that he represents his party, what he says is not necessarily his opinion but party policy.
Fawad said that I have to represent my party, what I have stated is the stand of my party. He added that Imran Khan is fighting Pakistan’s war, and he will only speak the truth.
The PTI leader said he was arrested not by the Islamabad Police but by the Lahore Police, while his lawyer Babar Awan claimed that Fawad was “kidnapped”.
The former information minister requested the court to block his contact SIM as the police had confiscated his phone.
Fawad’s wife Haba Khan said that he should not be brought to the court with his face covered and handcuffed like a terrorist. She added that if the court approves the further remand of her husband or sends him to jail, she will hold a nationwide protest.
However, she added that she was not aware of any violence against her husband.
