Imran’s nephew sent to jail on 14-day judicial remand

Islamabad court rejects police request to extend physical remand of Hassan Khan Niazi

ISLAMABAD:

A district and sessions court of Islamabad rejected the police’s request to extend physical remand of Hassan Khan Niazi, nephew and focal person of PTI chief Imran Khan, and sent him to jail on 14-day judicial remand.

Police had taken Niazi into custody on Monday in a case related to clashes between PTI workers and Islamabad police during Imran Khan's court appearance in the Toshakhana case.

After completion of two-day physical remand, Niazai was presented before Duty Magistrate Mureed Abbas earlier today.

During the hearing of the case, the investigating officer sought another five-day physical remand of the accused, saying the co-accused had been identified and weapons and vehicle involved in the incident have to be recovered from Hassan Niazi.

Niaz’s counsel Faisal Chaudhry opposed the police request, saying 72 hours have passed but the police have not recovered weapon yet.

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“According to the investigating officer, the co-accused has been identified. If the weapons and vehicle are not in possession then why Hassan Niazi should be kept in custody?” the counsel argued.

Chaudhry further said that Niazi is a professional lawyer and he was granted bails in three cases on the day of his arrest. “PTI leaders are being prosecuted only on political grounds and he [Hassan Niazi] will be tortured in the police custody,” he added.

PTI's lawyer Ali Bukhari also requested the court to discharge charges levelled by police against Niazi and added that his detention is illegal.

After hearing the arguments, the duty magistrate sent Niazi to jail on judicial remand till April 6.