ISLAMABAD: The former federal minister, Fawad Chaudhry, was transferred to the custody of the police following a court’s approval of a two-day remand in the federal capital. This came one day after his arrest at his residence in Islamabad.
The District Judicial Complex court ordered a medical examination for Fawad and instructed the police to facilitate a meeting with his family members.
The court’s directives were issued after Fawad’s arrest on Saturday, initially questioned by his wife, Hiba, who claimed it was unjustified. Subsequently, it was revealed that he had been detained due to a complaint filed against him at Islamabad’s Aabpara Police Station. The complaint alleged that he had solicited a bribe of Rs5 million in exchange for a job.
In response to Fawad’s arrest, his brother and lawyer, Faisal Chaudhary, submitted a petition to the magistrate, seeking his release.
During the hearing, the Judicial Magistrate, Ahmed Shahzad Gondal, requested a report from Islamabad police regarding the circumstances of the politician’s arrest.
Fawad’s wife, Hiba Fawad Chaudhry, had earlier protested that her husband was apprehended and taken to an undisclosed location without a clear reason for his arrest.
During today’s court proceedings, Fawad arrived at the District Judicial Complex with his face concealed and his hands handcuffed under police security.
Present in the courtroom were the politician’s wife, his lawyers Faisal and Faraz Chaudhry, and Advocate Qamar Inayat Raja. Fawad met them after receiving permission from the duty judge, Abbas Shah.
His brother and lawyer raised questions about the use of a cloth to cover Fawad’s face.
On the other hand, the police requested a five-day remand for the former minister after a case was registered against him for allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs5 million in exchange for a job.
In the first information report (FIR) against the politician, the plaintiff stated, “Fawad Chaudhry was upset about the demand for money, and he threatened to harm me,” claiming that he had given Rs5 million to the former minister.
Meanwhile, Fawad requested the court to either grant him judicial remand or provide access to a doctor. He also denied any knowledge of the plaintiff, stating, “I am a former federal minister and a Supreme Court lawyer. I should not be subjected to indignity. There is no restroom where remand is being sought,” while appealing to the court for bathroom facilities and permission to meet his children.
(Islamabad51_Newsdesk)
