• Fawad Chaudhry was handed over to police on two-day physical remand
• Islamabad Police filed a plea to overturn the judicial remand
• The court allowed Fawad to meet his legal team and family

ISLAMABAD: A district and sessions court handed over Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Fawad Chaudhry on physical remand in police custody for two days, Bol News reported.

Judicial Magistrate Waqas Ahmed Raja heard the case against the PTI leader for allegedly making threatening statements against the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).

The court accepted the Islamabad Police’s plea against a decision to send the former minister on judicial remand. The prosecutor sought a seven-day physical remand and said Fawad Chaudhry’s mobile laptop and other devices need to be recovered.

The prospector said Fawad Chaudhry must undergo a photographic test. The Election Commission’s lawyer also requested further physical remand of Fawad Chaudhry.

After hearing the arguments of the parties, the court approved a two-day physical remand of Fawad Chaudhary. The court instructed the investigating officer o probe the case on merit. The court ordered police to produce him on Monday, January 30.

Apart from Fawad Chaudhry’s legal team, his wife Hiba Chaudhry, PTI leaders Zulfi Bukhari, Ali Nawaz Awan, and DIG Operations Sohail Iqbal Chatta also reached the court.

Fawad’s counsel Babar Awan gave his arguments before the court and termed the “tactics” being used against Fawad as “state terrorism”. He noted that the session judge has limited powers to review a court decision.

“The power to grant physical and judicial remand lies with the magistrate. Sessions court does not have the power to physically remand anyone. The court cannot practice fictitious powers.”

The court asked about the investigation of the accused.  The court ordered the investigation officer to present the accused before the court. The prosecution said that it wants conduct a photogrammetric test of the accused.

Advocate Ali Bukhari said that the record of the case was not presented in the Additional Sessions Judge Faizan Haider Gilani who was supposed to hear the bail application.

The judicial magistrate asked why Fawad Chaudhry was not brought to the court. The investigating officer replied that there was a rush outside the court.

The judicial magistrate said he prosecution has maintained the mobile phone being sent for forensics. Lawyer Faisal Chaudhry said the prosecution lied before the session court judge that Fawad did not posses a mobile phone.

The judicial magistrate said that physical remand for investigation does not mean that the accused should be tortured. Fawad Chaudhry was later brought before the court.

Babar Awan said that Fawad Chaudhry is not allowed to meet his lawyers. He said Fawad was brought to court draped in sheet with his face covered despite the court’s orders.  The court later allowed Fawad to consult with his legal team and meet his wife.

Also Read

Court accepts plea seeking extension in physical remand of Fawad Chaudhry

Fawad Chaudhry to be produced in court by 12:30 Judge Tahir Mehmood...