Karachi: A local court approved Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leader Ali Zaidi’s three-day physical remand in case filed against him for “Fraud and issuing threats”.

Zaidi was arrested on Saturday on charges of fraud and issuing threats in case registered against him at Ibrahim Hyderi Police Station by citizen named Fazal Elahi. During hearing, court also rejected PTI leader’s plea seeking to discharge from case. Today, former federal minister was presented before judicial magistrate in Malir District. At outset of hearing, police told court that they had presented former minister within 24 hours of arrest. Zaidi’s lawyer maintained that it was not criminal offence and added: “It falls under jurisdiction of civil court instead of criminal court.”

“FIR doesn’t state anything about how transaction was made until now. Neither, complainant had attached bank cheque or anything else as evidence of any exchange, with complaint,” lawyer said.

He objected to delay in filing complaint since matter pertains to 2013 and asked if police had authority to register case in such matter.

“Complainant Fazal Ilahi gave such big amount but there is no witness for that. Ali Zaidi should be discharged under Section 63 of CrPC,” lawyer requested court.

Meanwhile, Zaidi claimed that police hadn’t presented him within 24 hours as he had been arrested on Saturday but police claimed they had arrested him after midnight. He maintained that he had never met man who had lodged case against him.

Published in The Daily National Courier, April, 18 2023

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