LAHORE, Jan (25): A court in the Punjab capital on Wednesday adjourned hearing on a petition, seeking transit remand of PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry, who was arrested for threatening the electoral body, to shift him to Islamabad, for later today.
The PTI stalwart was arrested from his residence in Lahore in wee hours of Wednesday after he was booked under sections 153A, 506 and 124 A of the Penal Code of Pakistan on a complaint lodged by the Election Commission of Pakistan Secretary Umer Hameed.
Police produced Mr Chaudhry in a court in Cantt in handcuffs hours after of his arrest and sought one-day transit remand.
In a short media talk, the PTI leader said security had been placed in a way as a “terrorist” was being brought in court, adding that he was unaware of the charges levelled against him. He also urged people to take to the streets against the government. He said former President of South Africa Nelson Mandela had also been booked in the sedition case.
During the hearing, the former information minister requested Judge Rana Mudassir to provide him a copy of the FIR registered against him, which was accepted.
His lawyer opposed the transit remand saying the distance of Islamabad from Lahore was four hours and there was no need of remand. Police should directly take his client to the federal capital and produce in the court.
The PTI leader also said his petition against his illegal detention is pending in the Lahore High Court (LHC) and requested the judge to not issue verdict on the transite remand plea until the LHC deicides the case.
Earlier, thousands of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) workers gather outside PTI chief Imran Khan residence in Zaman Park, Lahore in the wee hours of Wednesday to protect their leader from possible arrest by the Punjab police
Thousands of PTI workers including women and children and top leadership of the party reached Zaman Park on the call given through PTI official Twitter account.
Speaking to media outside the residence of Imran Khan, PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry said that only on a 30-minute notice thousands of workers came here. “Arresting Imran Khan, country’s most popular leader, is a conspiracy against Pakistan,” he said.
Fawad Chaudhry said Imran Khan is our red line and if someone conspires to arrest Khan, then there will be protests all over Pakistan. He said that every city of Pakistan will be locked down as masses stand with their popular leader.
