A district and sessions court in Islamabad has placed former federal minister Fawad Chaudhry on a 14-day judicial remand.
He was arrested for alleged financial fraud during the past tenure of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government.
According to the First Information Report (FIR) filed at the Aabpara police station on August 22, 2022, the charges against Fawad include sections 109 (abetment), 186 (obstruction of public servant), 188 (disobedience to public servant’s order), 341 (wrongful restraint), and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Pakistan Penal Code.
Fawad Chaudhry, a former leader of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, was apprehended at his residence in Islamabad by law enforcement last week and had been in police custody since then.
Alongside Fawad, prominent political figures such as AML chief Sheikh Rashid Ahmed, current and former PTI leaders, and numerous unidentified individuals were implicated in the FIR.
During his court appearance, Fawad called for dialogue among all political parties, questioning the legitimacy of an election victory achieved through dubious means, referencing former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.
He also urged Nawaz Sharif to contribute to calming the political climate in the country.
In the courtroom, Fawad was granted permission to consult with his legal counsel.
He questioned the absence of the complainant during the hearing.
Despite the police’s request for a five-day extension in Fawad’s physical remand, the judicial magistrate deemed it unnecessary and ordered Fawad’s transfer to judicial custody. Fawad Chaudhry is now scheduled to reappear in court on November 22.
It is noteworthy that Fawad Chaudhry was one of several PTI leaders who left the party following the unrest on May 9, which followed the arrest of PTI chief Imran Khan.
Despite initially stating he was “taking a break from politics,” Fawad’s involvement with the newly formed Istehkam-i-Pakistan Party (IPP) led by Jahangir Khan Tareen remained ambiguous, with no official confirmation of his affiliation with the party.
