Fawad Chaudhry released from jail

Fawad Chaudhry released from jail

Pakistan

Fawad Chaudhry released from jail

ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader and former federal minister Fawad Chaudhry has been released from jail hours after court approved his bail plea.

Talking to the media on Wednesday, that he has never spoken out against institutions. He expressed his concern about the current state of politics in Pakistan and questioned the situation if the MNAs from Jehlum and Mianwali were deemed as traitors.

He believes that if the institutions and the public are in alignment, the country has the potential to flourish.

Fawad emphasised the importance of holding elections and bringing everyone together to resolve the crisis. He believes that it is in everyone's best interest to have a unified front and avoid any conflicts between institutions and political parties.

The PTI leader emphasised the need for elected officials to form the government, so that the country can move forward.

Chaudhry also criticized the actions of the ECP (Election Commission of Pakistan). He claimed that the ECP is behaving like a mere clerk and follows orders from the government without question.

He stated that if the ECP is so powerless, they should stay at home instead. He expressed his determination to hold these officials accountable and stated that his party will continue to pursue them with the intention of punishing them.

Earlier today, a district and sessions court in the federal capital had granted post-arrest bail to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Fawad Chaudhry in a sedition case registered against him for hurling threats at officials of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).

Additional Sessions Judge Faizan Haider Gillani approved the bail against surety bonds worth Rs20,000. “I am granting bail to Fawad on one condition that he would not issue such statements against institutions,” the judge remarked, adding that the parliamentarians should avoid giving such remarks. 

Read more: Fawad Chaudhry sent to jail on 14-day judicial remand

The judge ordered the police to release the PTI leader. The sessions court has rejected prosecutor and the ECP counsel’s request for turning down the bail petition.

During the hearing, Babar Awan, the counsel for the PTI leader, argued that the electoral body was not state, adding that sedition section had been politicised in the case. He said his client had been nominated in a fake case. “Saying to someone that I will take action against you does not mean a threat,” Mr Awan said. 

Read Also: Imran pens letter to CJP to protect Fawad's constitutional rights

In his bail petition, Mr Chaudhry stated that he “has falsely been involved in the instant case by the complainant with the mala fide intention and ulterior motives just to harass, pressurise and blackmail the present petitioner, whereas, the allegations levelled in the FIR are absolutely false, frivolous and baseless and the petitioner is quite innocent. Moreover, the petitioner has no link or concern with the commission of alleged offence”.

Read More: Details of case registered against Fawad Chaudhry surface

“That the petitioner was arrested in the aforementioned FIR illegally unlawfully and without any Justification in negation to the law and the Constitutional rights of the petitioner, hence, petitioner seeks the remedy of bail after arrest from this Honorable Court,” it said.

On Jan 31, a judicial magistrate rejected the plea seeking extension of physical remand of the PTI leader and sent him to jail on 14-day judicial remand.

The former information minister was taken into custody on Jan 25 after a first information report (FIR) against him was registered at Islamabad’s Kohsar police station on a complaint by the ECP secretary.