ISLAMABAD: An Islamabad district and sessions court last night granted police two-day physical remand of PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry, hours after he was arrested for inciting violence against constitutional institution.

Duty Magistrate Naveed Khan announced reserved verdict, adjourning hearing till January 27 (Friday). Investigating officer had sought eight-day physical remand of former Minister.

I will be doing media talk 4 pm today. Fawad's arrest on his apt description of the CEC leaves no doubt in anyone's mind that Pak has become a banana republic devoid of rule of law. We must stand up for our fundamental rights now to save Pak's drift towards a point of no return.

— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) January 25, 2023

Former Minister was taken into custody early Wednesday morning after first information report against him was registered at Islamabad Kohsar Police Station by an official of Election Commission of Pakistan for threatening electoral body’s members and their families.

Kohsar Police Islamabad arrested Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leader and former Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry from his residence in Lahore, produced him before court.

At outset of hearing, PTI’s lawyers requested court to remove handcuffs of Fawad Chaudhary, Fawad Chaudhary asked court to tell Islamabad Police not to do this, there are 1,500 policemen outside, and he is handcuffed, adding, “I am lawyer of Supreme Court and I want to talk to my family for five minutes and five minutes to my lawyers.”

“It is unfortunate that we are taking revenge against each other in politics,” he said. Fawad requested that case against him be dismissed, arguing that if case continued, free speech would end in country. “I never gave speech but was addressing media talk during which I was misquoted. I am spokesperson of PTI and whatever I say is party’s policy. It is not necessary that what I say is my own personal opinion,” he argued.

A case was registered against Fawad Chaudhry on report of Secretary Election Commission in Kohsar Police Station. It has been said in FIR registered in Kohsar Police Station Islamabad.

آئینی ادارے کی درخواست پر پی ٹی آئی رہنما فواد چوہدری کے خلاف مقدمہ درج کیا گیا۔

سیکرٹری الیکشن کمیشن آف پاکستان کی درخواست پر تھانہ کوہسار میں درج کیا گیا۔

فواد چوہدری نے چیف الیکشن کمشنر اور ممبران کو ان کے فرائض منصبی سے روکنے کے لئے ڈرایا دھمکایا۔
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— Islamabad Police (@ICT_Police) January 25, 2023

Chaudhry had allegedly said in his statement Election Commission has become munshi and Election commissioner signs things sent by Governor like clerk. Order is given to make Mohsin Naqvi Chief Minister and Election Commissioner has signed it. Fawad Chaudhry said if you are so much weak then you should sit in homes. Transit remand of Fawad Chaudhry has been obtained from Lahore and he will be shifted to Islamabad.

On his shifting to Islamabad, Fawad Chaudhry will be presented in court of judicial magistrate Waqas Ahmad Raja.

The PTI leader said that he was not threatening the ECP members or their families, saying that he was merely "explaining" the matter. Fawad said that he was arrested by Lahore police, not the Islamabad police, who have his mobile phone in their possession. He questioned why he was kept detained at a Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) facility as he was not a terrorist.

The ECP lawyer, during his arguments, said that the commission was a constitutional institution and had all the power to conduct elections in the country.

Published in The Daily National Courier, January, 26 2023

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