An accountability court on Thursday sent former federal minister Fawad Chaudhry to Adiala jail on judicial remand in a case related to corruption in construction projects, Geo has reported.
Islamabad Accountability Court Judge Muhammad Basheer heard the case. During the hearing, Chaudhry asked Judge Muhammad Basheer about his health.
In response to Fawad’s question, the judge said that “I am completely fine.”
Fawad’s council requested the court to keep the former federal minister in the B-class category in jail.
Meanwhile, a bail application was also filed on behalf of Fawad Chaudhry.
The inside story of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan’s trial in Adiala Jail, in the case of insulting the Election Commission (ECP), and Chief Election Commissioner, has come to light.
According to the sources who talked to GEO News, PTI founder Imran Khan became very angry during the indictment. Sources claimed that the former prime minister made a serious threat to members of the ECP during the hearing.
Threatening the four members of ECP, Khan said, “I know your faces and names. I will impose Article 6 on you when I’ll come into power.”
A hearing of the case against the PTI founder and former PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry proceeded on Thursday in Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail. According to the charge sheet, Imran Khan and Fawad Chaudhry launched a planned derogatory campaign against the Election Commission in 2022.
In all honesty, 2023 was more like a crazy roller coaster than a democratic process when it comes to Pakistani politics. Here are some of the significant events that happened this year:
Assemblies dissolved
On January 14, 2023, the provincial assembly of Punjab was dissolved while on January 16, 2023, Pakistan’s northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was dissolved as former Prime Minister Imran Khan was pushing for early national elections.
May 9
On May 9, 2023, former prime minister and founder chairman of Pakistan Tehreek e Insaf (PTI), Imran Khan was submitting his biometric data for a court appearance when paramilitary forces broke down a window inside the court to get to apprehend him.
The dramatic and sudden arrest of the former cricket star turned leader resulted in violent clashes between supporters of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and law enforcement agencies protests to mark the arrest of the former Prime Minister turned into riots.
Several military installations, including GHQ and the Lahore corps commander’s official residence, were attacked across the country within hours of Imran Khan’s detention.
May 9, termed a “black day” by the Pakistani state, ended up provoking a harsh military crackdown on Khan’s party.
PTI Dismantled
Thousands of PTI members, including many women, were rounded up and arrested after May 9 riots.
More than two dozen members of PTI resigned from the politics following the protests.
Notable figures like Shireen Mazari, Asad Umer, Fayyazul Hassan Chohan, Fawad Chaudhry, Maleeka Bokhari, Abrar ul Haq, Murad Ras, Ali Haider Zaidi, Imran Islamil, Usman Dar, Farrukh Habib, Sadaqat Ali Abbasi, Andleeb Abbas, Arbab Ghulam Rahim, Shaukat Tarin and others either left PTI or quit politics.
Imran Khan Jailed
Police arrested Pakistan’s former Prime Minister Imran Khan in Lahore on August 5, 2023, after a court sentenced him to three years in prison for illegally selling state gifts, potentially barring the opposition leader from contesting an upcoming election.
On September 26, 2023, Imran Khan was shifted to the Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi from Attock prison, a day after the Islamabad High Court ordered authorities to relocate him to the high-security jail.
Qazi Faez Isa
On September 17, 2023, Justice Qazi Faez Isa was sworn in as the 29th chief justice of Pakistan.
A ceremony was held at Aiwan-i-Sadr in Islamabad during which President Arif Alvi administered the oath of office. Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar and Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir were also present.
Justice Isa was accompanied by his wife, Sarina Isa, while he was taking oath.
Imran Riaz ‘safely’ returns
On the evening of May 11, 2023, police arrested Imran Riaz Khan, a former anchor with the privately owned broadcaster Express News and host of a YouTube channel with over three million subscribers.
Imran Riaz Khan, often called Imran Riaz, was trying to flee the country over fears of his arrest. At the time, authorities accused him of inciting people to violence through his reporting.
He was said to have been freed a few days later, but there was no trace of him and police denied keeping him in custody.
On September 25, 2023, his lawyer Mian Ali Ashfaq took to X (former Tiwtter) and posted a picture of Imran Riaz, after his return, stating that the recovery took a long time due to “countless difficulties, a weak judiciary” and the ineffectiveness of the Constitution. He also shared a photo of him with Khan.
The rift between Zardari and Bilawal
On November 23, 2023, the former president of Pakistan and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari‘s father, Asif Ali Zardari, during an exclusive interview with Hamid Mir on Geo News’ program “Capital Talk”, said that Bilawal is “inexperienced” and that it would take some time for him to gain more exposure, on Thursday.
“Bilawal is much more talented than I am, but he isn’t experienced,” he said.
On November 24, 2023, in a seeming act of defiance to his father, Bilawal changed his profile picture on X on Friday afternoon, to a photo with his mother Benazir Bhutto, the former Prime Minister and head of the PPP till her assassination in 2017.
PPP denied all the claims of a rift between the father-son duo.
Afghan Refugees Repatriation
On October 3, 2023, Pakistan’s caretaker government announced it would carry out mass deportations — known under domestic law as an Illegal Foreigners Repatriation Plan — asking all concerned to leave the country before 1 November. Although the plan purported to apply to all foreigners residing in the country illegally, it appears designed to target Afghans, millions of whom have sought refuge in Pakistan over the years.
As of December 29, 2023, the total number of allegedly illegal Afghans who left Pakistan reached 453,480 and the process is still underway.
Nawaz Sharif Returns
On October 21, 2023, Pakistan’s thrice-elected former Prime Minister and Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PMLN) supremo Nawaz Sharif returned to Pakistan, ending four years of self-imposed exile in London.
Nawaz Sharif was disqualified when the Supreme Court of Pakistan (SC) announced its decision on July 28, 2017, in the Panama Papers case. After that, Nawaz Sharif and three of his children were referred to an accountability court, which was ordered to file corruption cases against Sharif’s family within six weeks.
In July 2018, the expelled prime minister was imprisoned for 10 years in the Avenfield properties corruption case, an assets-beyond-means trial.
In the Al-Azizia Steel Mills corruption case, the PML-N supremo was sentenced to seven years in jail on December 24, 2018. Nawaz Sharif was taken to Adiala jail in this case, and then he was shifted to Lahore’s Kot Lakhpat jail on the very next day. He was also fined Rs1.5 billion and US$25 million in this case.
The former prime minister was released from jail in March 2019. After that, the Lahore High Court (LHC) allowed Nawaz Sharif to go to London for treatment for fast-depleting platelet levels, and then he left for London in November 2019.
Elections Date Announced
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) announced on November 3, 2023, that 8th February 2024 is the poll date for the General Elections for the National Assembly of Pakistan and Provincial assemblies of Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan.
The date was announced by the President House in a statement following a meeting between the top election officials and President Alvi, hours after the election commission lawyer told the Supreme Court that elections will be held on February 11.
PTI New Chairman
On December 2, 2023, The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaaf (PTI) on Saturday elected Barrister Gohar Ali Khan as the new chairman in the intra-party elections held on the directives of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).
Gohar won the chairman’s position unopposed.
The change was forced on the party after the Election Commission of Pakistan warned the PTI last month that it risked losing its emblem – a cricket bat – unless an internal ballot was held for party officers.
Election symbols are crucial in a country where the adult literacy rate is 58 percent, according to World Bank data.
Baloch Long March
Demanding the release of all “missing persons” and an end to “extrajudicial killing” in Balochistan under the leadership of activist Dr Mahrang Baloch and Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC), the march started in Turbat, Balochistan, on December 6 after the alleged extrajudicial killing of 24-year-old Balach Baloch.
According to BYC, when the march reached the capital, the city administration didn’t allow them to protest in front of the press club. Maharng Baloch said in her live video from the Facebook page of BYC that Islamabad police arrested 300 male protesters, eight women, and 10 children.
An accountability court in Islamabad granted a six-day physical remand for former federal minister Fawad Chaudhry on Saturday in connection with a case involving misappropriation in construction projects in Jhelum.
The court noted that the case investigation should be concluded, ensuring Fawad’s access to his legal counsel. The ex-minister is scheduled to appear in court on January 5, 2024.
Fawad was taken into custody earlier this month by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in connection with the corruption case. NAB Chairman Lt-Gen (retd) Nazir Ahmed Butt authorized the issuance of an arrest warrant for the politician. Subsequently, the individual was suspended from Adiala jail, where they were already held in connection with a separate fraud case.
The former minister’s lawyer and brother, Faisal Chaudhry, and NAB Prosecutor Sohail Arif were also present in the courtroom.
Meher Bano Qureshi, daughter of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi, said that the treatment being handed out to her father is unbearable for his “mureeds.”
“The people of Umarkot came out of fear. Peaceful protest of Ghousia Jamaat followers and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf workers in Umarkot against the humiliation and bogus arrest of Makhdoom Shah Mehmood Qureshi by the Rawalpindi police.”
“The people of Khipro on the streets against oppression! Full peaceful protest of Ghousia Jamaat Khipro on ill-treatment of Shah Mehmood Qureshi and arrest in the bogus case.”
@teamsmq کھپرو کے عوام ظلم کے خلاف سڑکوں پر! شاہ محمود قریشی کے ساتھ ناروا سلوک اور بوگس مقدمے میں گرفتاری پر غوثیہ جماعت کھپرو کا بھرپور پرامن احتجاج۔ #ReleaseSMQ♬ original sound – riShi
Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi is the Sajjada Nasheen of Shrine Hazrat Bahauddin Zakariya (R.A).
After Hur and Sarwari Jamaats, the Ghousia Jamaat has the most influence in Sindh.
Pir Pagara is the Sajjada Nashin for Hur Jamaat and Makhdum Amin Fahim for Sarwari Jamaat.
Their “gaddis”- religious centers- are in Pir Jo Goth and Hala.
While the gaddi for Qureshi’s followers is in Multan, the city used to be a part of Sindh till 1818 when Maharaja Ranjit Singh captured it. Hence, a large number of Bahauddin Zakariya’s followers are from Sindh.
A few former parliamentarians in Sanghar, Hyderabad, and Tando Allahyar districts are diehard followers of Ghosia Jamaat, who were elected in the 2008 elections because of their influence in the community.
Besides Tharparker, Sanghar, Tando Allahyar, Ghotki, Umerkot, Larkana, Kamber Shahdadkot, Shahdadpur, Mirpurkhas, Badin, Thatta and Jacobabad districts also have a large following of the Ghousia Jamaat.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi claimed to have endured mental and physical torture during his incarceration.
The former Foreign Minister appeared before Duty Magistrate Syed Jahangir Ali in the GHQ attack case, asserting that he was subjected to harsh conditions, both mentally and physically, and exposed to severe cold weather while in jail.
During the court session, he insisted on recording his statement in the presence of his counsel, expressing dissatisfaction with the police’s attempt to obtain his statement without legal representation as per Geo News.
The former foreign minister said he was being treated in jail for the past several months in the same manner. “Is this justice? I am tortured,” he asked.
Qureshi said he will swear on the Holy Quran that he was not present in Rawalpindi on May 9 and instead, he was in Karachi that day.
“I was with my wife in the Aga Khan Hospital. Get the record from PEMRA, I was present in Karachi,” said Qureshi.
Qureshi, who had previously been granted bail by three Supreme Court judges, questioned the justice system, highlighting the fluctuating circumstances of his arrest and release.
He said that he was arrested under Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) 3.
“One night I am arrested and in the morning I am told that I am being released. When I asked what made it happen, they replied there is a loophole in the case,” he said.
Qureshi said he was ordered to be arrested on December 26 then the date was changed to 27. He was within the jail’s premises when Punjab police arrived to arrest him, he said.
“I have been a member of the assembly for five times. SHO Ashfaq tortured me. He kicked and punched me,” he said. He said he felt pain in his chest for which he was begged the superintendent police for hours to take him to hospital.
“A doctor was called who was carrying just a blood pressure checking machine,” he added.
Earlier, the Rawalpindi Police reportedly barred journalists from entering the judicial complex, citing a ban on media coverage of the GHQ attack case against Qureshi.
His legal counsel expressed concern over the restriction, questioning the nature of an in-camera trial with limited media access.
شاہ محمود قریشی کی راولپنڈی میں جوڈیشل کمپلیکس میں پیشی پر پولیس نے صحافیوں کو عدالت جانے سے روک دیا بھاری نفری تعینات، افسران بالا سے بات کریں، پولیس کا کہنا ہے کہ ہمیں یہی احکامات ہیں کہ میڈیا کو شاہ محمود قریشی کی پیشی پر عدالت میں نہیں جانے دینا#ShahMehmoodQureshi
Qureshi’s daughter, Meher Bano Qureshi, filed a petition with the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) against what she termed the “unlawful abduction” of her father, as per Geo News.
Meherbano stated in the petition that Qureshi had been granted bail by the Supreme Court, and referred to the remark of Justice Athar Minallah, who stated: “The incarceration of the petitioners will not serve any useful purpose.
Moreover, their release on bail during the period of elections would ensure ‘genuine elections and thus enable the people to exercise the right to express their will effectively and meaningfully.”
The PTI vice chairman’s recent arrest, just after securing bail in a cipher case, raised questions about the circumstances surrounding his detention.
President Arif Alvi also weighed in, calling on authorities to address the alleged mistreatment of Qureshi and uphold human rights and dignity.
“We must not become a state where human rights and dignity are violated without fear. Authorities must pay attention to the confiscation of documents, the brutal action against the protesters, and now the indecent treatment of the former foreign minister by two governments,” Alvi wrote on X (former Twitter).
ہمیں ایسی ریاست نہیں بننا چاہیے جہاں انسانی حقوق اور وقار کو بلاخوف پامال کیا جائے۔ کاغذات چھیننا، مظاہرین کے خلاف بےرحمانہ کارروائی اور اب دو حکومتوں کے سابق وزیر خارجہ کے ساتھ غیر مہذبانہ سلوک پر حکام کو ضرور توجہ کرنی چاہیے۔ رجعت پسند دلائل کہ “ایسے واقعات پہلے بھی رونما…
The arrest is linked to cases related to the May 9 riots following the arrest of PTI founder Imran Khan. Qureshi is implicated in a GHQ attack case and is expected to appear in an anti-terrorism court (ATC) for further proceedings.
A special court in Rawalpindi granted post-arrest bail to former federal minister Fawad Chaudhry on Sunday in a corruption case.
The court announced its decision to release the former minister, ordering him to submit a surety bond of Rs200,000.
Fawad Chaudhry was arrested in November, in a case pertaining to a Rs5 million bribe paid by a citizen in August 2022.
Following the extension of his physical remand, he was subsequently placed on judicial remand and is currently incarcerated at the Adiala jail.
While speaking with reporters outside the court, Fawad’s brother, Faisal Chaudhry, said that the ex-minister will take part in the upcoming polls, which are set to take place on February 8, 2024.
He also said that it has not been decided yet on what party ticket Fawad will contest the election.
“This decision will come as a surprise,” Faisal said.
Faisal Chaudhry also said that the conflict between him and his sister-in-law, Hiba Fawad, is a family matter.
“Hiba is my elder sister. [We] will resolve the domestic matter at home,” he stated.
The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has arrested former federal minister Fawad Chaudhry in a corruption case on Saturday, Geo News has reported.
NAB Chairman Lt-Gen. Nazir Ahmed Butt issued the arrest warrant for the former federal minister, while NAB took him into custody from Adiala jail, where he is imprisoned in a fraud case.
According to the details of the arrest warrants, he will be presented before the court.
Earlier, Fawad Chaudhry was arrested from his Islamabad residence in a case pertaining to a five million rupee bribe in exchange for a job. The complainant registered an FIR against Chaudhry at Aabpara Police Station.
The politico’s wife, Hiba Chaudhry, had said that Fawad was arrested without any reason. “Fawad has been arrested and taken to an unknown place,” she said.
In January, Fawad was taken into custody from his home following public statements where he allegedly “threatened” members of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) during a media talk outside the residence of former PTI chief Imran Khan in Zaman Park.
An anti-terrorism court has declared several leaders of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) proclaimed offenders (POs) in three cases related to the May 9 riots.
The decision was made by Judge Abher Gul Khan in response to separate applications filed by the investigating officers (IOs) of the cases.
The IOs reported that despite strenuous efforts, the suspects, fearing arrest, had gone into hiding, making their apprehension challenging. Non-bailable arrest warrants had previously been issued against them, but the suspects failed to surrender to the law, prompting the police to request the court to declare them POs.
Those declared POs in two cases of torching police vehicles near Jinnah House and Sher Pao Bridge are Hammad Azhar, Murad Saeed, Farrukh Habib, Azam Swati, Mian Aslam Iqbal, Hamid Raza, Karamat Khokhar, Khalid Gujjar, Sajjad Ahmad and Zubair Khan Niazi.
In the third case, which pertains to burning the PML-N office in Model Town, Fawad Chaudhry, Hammad Azhar, Jamshed Iqbal Cheema and his wife Musarrat Cheema, Zubair Khan Niazi, Ghulam Abbas, Farhat Abbas and Hamid Raza had been declared POs.
The judge also directed the IOs to submit details regarding moveable and immovable assets of the suspects so that proceedings for the attachment of their properties under section 88 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) could be started.
It is noteworthy that several of these PTI leaders have already been declared POs in other cases related to the May 9 protests, including the attacks on Jinnah House and Askari Tower.
Hamza Shehbaz wants an exemption
In a separate legal development, an accountability court issued a notice to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on an application submitted by former chief minister Hamza Shehbaz. Hamza sought permanent exemption from personal appearance in the trial proceedings of the Ramzan Sugar Mills reference.
Appearing before the court with his lawyer, Hamza Shehbaz’s application prompted the court to direct a NAB prosecutor to submit a reply by January 12. The NAB had reopened the reference, initially closed under defunct amendments to the National Accountability Ordinance 1999, following a Supreme Court decision that struck down those amendments.
In the Ramzan Sugar Mills reference, NAB alleged that Shehbaz Sharif, then chief minister, and his son Hamza, in abetment and connivance, caused a loss of Rs213 million to the national exchequer by misusing their authority. The allegations revolve around the construction of a drain in Chiniot district primarily for the use of Ramzan Sugar Mills owned by Hamza and his brother Suleman.
Former Prime Minister Imran Khan, currently under arrest, has said that he will ask the court to summon General (retd) Qamar Javed Bajwa, former Army Chief, in connection with the cipher case. Imran Khan shared this information during an informal conversation with journalists at Adiala Jail.
Imran Khan explained the circumstances of his arrest, stating that it was all part of London’s plan. He drew a parallel with Nawaz Sharif, stating that after the London plan, Nawaz Sharif returned to Pakistan. He further claimed that Nawaz Sharif is responsible for 9 May incidents.
Breaking : عمران خان نے 9 مئی واقعے کی زمہ داری نوازشریف پر عائد کردی۔ انہوں نے کہا کہ 9 مئی لندن پلان کا حصہ ہے۔ یہ معاملہ تحریری معاہدے کی صورت میں موجود ہے۔ نوازشریف اسی پلان کے بعد وطن واپس آئے۔ جیل رہنا عبادت سمجھتا ہوں۔ (جیل میں سائفر کیس کی سماعت کے دوران صحافیوں سے…
Journalist Azaz Syed posted in a tweet that, “Imran Khan while talking to reporters in the jail (during the jail trial) said that I will summon Gen Bajwa to the court , he (Bajwa) did all on the directions of Donald Lu , I will also bring US Embassy officials and Gen Bajwa in doc (as witness).He said that Donald Lu took the cypher to Gen Bajwa, it was meant for Bajwa. “They wanted to remove me. They are trying to do with me what they did with Sheikh Mujib,” Imran reportedly said. He added that he can give in writing that his party will win the elections.
Imran Khan while talking to reporters in the jail (during the jail trial) said that I will summon Gen Bajwa to the court , he (Bajwa) did all on the directions of Donald Lu , I will also bring US Embassy officials and Gen Bajwa in doc (as witness).He said that Donald Lu took the…
Imran Khan, also the former Chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), alleged that General Bajwa had acted on the instructions of US diplomat Donald Lu, asserting that he would ensure that General Bajwa faced the court for his actions.
Responding to a question, Imran Khan emphasized that he had not engaged in any negotiations for a deal, declaring his readiness to submit a written statement affirming that PTI would emerge victorious in the elections.
He further stated that he has faced no difficulties in jail and considers incarceration a form of worship.
عمران خان کا بہت بڑا بیان!
قسم اٹھانے اور قرآن پر ہاتھ رکھنے کیلئے تیار ہوں کہ بشری بی بی کو اُس دن دیکھا جس نے اُن سے نکاح کیا، عمران خان
In response to queries about PTI leaders leaving the party, Imran Khan expressed gratitude for those departing, considering it a positive development.
عمران خان کی کمرہ عدالت میں صحافیوں سے گفتگو حالات بتاتے ہیں آپ کو طویل عرصے تک جیل میں رہنا پڑے گا۔ صحافی کا سوال
“مجھے کوئی فرق نہیں پڑتا، قوم کو پیغام دینا چاہتا ہوں آپ کا کپتان آخری سانس تک لڑنے کیلئے تیار ہے۔ مجھ سے نہ کوئی ملا نہ مزاکرات کی۔ نو مئی لندن پلان کا حصہ تھا۔…
— Rizwan Ghilzai (Student of Arshad Sharif) (@RizwanGhilzai) December 4, 2023
It’s important to note that a special court, established under the Secret Act, has set December 12 as the date to formally charge Imran Khan and Shah Mahmood Qureshi in the Safdar case. The case involves the alleged altercation with law enforcement at the Quaid’s mausoleum during Maryam Nawaz’s rally.
Former prime minister Imran Khan has claimed that neither he met anyone in jail nor did somebody negotiate with him. He also stressed that the PTI will win the elections.
Khan made these remarks while answering a reporter’s question, in his first interaction with the media since being imprisoned, about whether someone held negotiations with him.
Recalling the events of May 9, the former PTI chairman said Dr Yasmin Rashid can be clearly seen asking people not to go inside the Lahore Corps Commander House. He added that CCTV footage could be seen to check who led the miscreants inside.
Furthermore, Khan said false accusations had been made through Khawar Maneka, adding that these were morally corrupt people.
“I can say on oath that I saw Bushra Bibi on the day of the marriage,” he insisted.
Imran Khan said he wanted to convey a message that the “kaptaan” was ready to fight till his last breath. He further alleged that the so-called London Plan was meant to bring back PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif, jail all PTI officials and finish the party.
“I am making it clear to you today that the PTI will win the elections,” the former PTI chief said, adding that looking at the situation, it was feared they would run away from elections.
He further commented on the economy, saying that growth has dropped from 6.17 to zero. “People are not mad; they know what these people have done.”
On the other hand, Shah Mahmood Qureshi told a reporter he did not need any office within the party. The former minister was responding to a journalist’s statement that Barrister Gohar Ali Khan had been made the PTI chairman.
“I stood by Khan yesterday; I am standing today and will continue to do so in the future,” Qureshi asserted. He added that he was at a stage where he did not need a position.
He further urged the supporters of the former PTI chairman to go out of their houses and cast their votes. He added that he was in the hearts of Imran Khan and the people of the PTI.
