Lahore: A Lahore district and sessions court sent ARY anchorperson Chaudhry Ghulam Hussain to jail on judicial remand for 14 days in case pertaining to bank fraud. Hussain was arrested from Lahore’s Gulberg by Federal Investigation Agency.

According to a press release issued by agency, Hussain took a Rs 57 million loan from a bank in 2003 by submitting fake documents.

Anchor’s two sons were also named in case, agency said, adding that a banking court in Lahore issued a perpetual warrant (non-bailable warrant) for Hussain.

Earlier, Hussain was presented before a Lahore sessions court. During hearing, FIA submitted a plea seeking 14-day physical remand of journalist.

“Chaudhry Ghulam Hussain did not return a loan he had taken from a bank,” FIA prosecutor Munim Bashir told court, contending that loan was secured by submitting fake documents. However Azhar Siddiqui, Hussain’s lawyer argued that case was more than a decade old and first information report against his client was registered in 2011. “Will FIA now work for banks to recover money?” He said that Hussain had never been accused of submitting fake documents. Court then asked FIA prosecutor about how Hussain was appearing on national television every day if he had been declared a proclaimed offender in 2013. “What were you doing since 2013,” judge asked.

At that, Hussain’s lawyer said that his client had no role in case, adding that all other people named in case had been released. “Hussain has already returned 47 percent of amount as a guarantor.” Siddiqui said that his client was a journalist and hence was being falsely implicated. “Ever since his arrest, Hussain is being defamed.” Subsequently, court rejected FIA’s plea for Hussain’s physical remand and sent journalist to jail on 14-day judicial remand. It also instructed agency to return Hussain’s identity card.

Published in The Daily National Courier, October, 29 2022

Like Business on Facebook, follow @DailyNCourier on Twitter to stay informed and join in the conversation.