LHC rejects plea against arrest of Fawad Chaudhry

• Lahore High Court rejected the plea to arrest Fawad Chaudhry
• The judge said the FIR has been registered in Islamabad
• Fawad’s lawyers urged the court to declare the arrest illegal

Lahore High Court has rejected the plea against the arrest Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) senior leader Fawad Chaudhry and asked him approach the relevant forum to dismiss the case.

The court heard the case after PTI leader was arrested by police in the wee hours of Wednesday and taken to Islamabad. The court had summoned the Inspectors General Police of Punjab and Islamabad to appear before the court.

Justice Tariq Saleem Sheikh head the habeas corpus petition filed for the recovery of the PTI leader. At the outset of the hearing, Acting Advocate General Punjab said Fawad Chaudhary has been taken to Islamabad court for an appearance.

IG Punjab submitted the reply before the court and said he received a message on WhatsApp about the court’s decision and the PTI had been already taken away to Islamabad.

The court expressed displeasure and said Fawad Chaudhry was not presented despite strict directives.  The police chief said Fawad Chaudhary is not in the custody of Punjab Police and he could not even think about contempt of court.

The court asked him to submit all documents on Fawad Chaudhry’s case, IG Punjab said it is the duty of Islamabad Police to produce Fawad Chaudhry. He said all case documents are available and will be presented before court.

The state prosecutor informed the court that police raided Fawad Chaudhary’s residence at 6AM and was produced him before a judicial magistrate.

Fawad Chaudhary was produced in the court of Judicial Magistrate in Cantt sessions court at around 10 o’clock this morning and was later taken to Services Hospital for medical treatment.

The state prosecutor said the court is hearing this case for the fourth time. He denied the impression that it was a case of illegal detention as FIR has been registered against Fawad Chaudhry.

Salman Safdar, the counsel for Fawad Chaudhary, expressed concern over the treatment of the PTI leader. He said the FIR was registered at 10 o’clock last night and an arrest was made directly by the case investigator. He said there are verdict of the higher courts on this issue.

The lawyer said the case was made on political vendetta against the PTI. He said the FIR filed was related to Fawad Chaudhary’s address to the media a day ago.

He said the FIR is registered at 10:30 pm, and Fawad was picked up from home at 5:30 this morning while the judicial magistrate also approved the transit remand.

He added that court had been violated as Fawad was not presented. He urged the court to declare the arrest as illegal. He said Fawad family members and brother is also being harassed on the matter.

Additional Advocate General Punjab said the case will be heard in Islamabad. The court said the FIRs have been registered in the federal capital and the Islamabad High Court has the authority to dismiss them.

Fawad Chaudhry’ lawyer said his client was arrested without investigation to defame him. He said the application become ineffective if the FIR was filed without merit.

Advocate Azhar Sidique said Fawad Chaudhry’s case is similar to Haleem Adil Sheikh who was given relief by the high court,

He said a case was filed in Kohsar police station by a citizen after seeing the address on media. He said it is a matter of surprise that a statement was heard on TV and then an FIR was also registered

The court sought assistance on how the case was filed illegally. Barrister Ahmed Pansota said the application is admissible as Fawad Chaudhry was in Services Hospital when the High Court ordered to produce him.

Justice Tariq Saleem Sheikh asked how the high court can cancel the FIR filed in Islamabad. The Lahore High Court eventually rejected the petition against Fawad Chaudhry’s arrest.

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