Nawaz urged to foster political de-escalation

Fawad Chaudhry sent to jail on 14-day judicial remand

ISLAMABAD:

Former federal minister and Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP) leader Fawad Chaudhry urged Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz supremo Nawaz Sharif on Wednesday to work for lowering political temperatures in the country, and stressed the need for dialogue among political parties.

Talking informally to journalists during his appearance in an Islamabad court, Fawad was critical of Nawaz’s politics, asking who would believe if the PML-N supremo won the elections in the current circumstance, or what a prime minister he would be?

He stressed that Nawaz should play his role in fair elections and contribute to lowering the political temperatures.

He recalled that former military ruler Gen Ayub Khan’s tenure was good, economically, but his controversial elections became a noose around his neck.

Chaudhry faces a case of fraud and harassment in the Islamabad court. He was presented in the court of Judicial Magistrate Yasir Mehmood by the Islamabad police at the end of his physical remand. Later, the judge sent Chaudhry to jail on 14-day judicial remand.

During the hearing, Chaudhry requested the court for allowing him some time for consulting with his lawyer, Qamar Inayat Raja. The court granted the permission.

On that Raja requested for removal of handcuffs of Chaudhry.

After consulting the lawyer, Chaudhry told the judge that it was his third appearance in the court but still the complainant against him had not appeared. Chaudhary praised the previous order of the magistrate, adding that his case was before the court and the court had examined it carefully.

Separately, the Lahore High Court Rawalpindi Bench directed the anti-corruption officials of Jhelum district to issue fresh notice to Chaudhry, detailing reasons for it, after which the petitioner could approach the court if there was any objection to the notice.

LHC Justice Mirza Waqas Rauf, while adjourning the hearing of Chaudhry’s petition till November 13, expressed his anger at the absence of chief officer of the Pindaddan Khan Municipal Committee and summoned him to appear in the court on the next hearing.

The anti-corruption department also withdrew the summons issued to the former minister, as the court expressed its annoyance over not providing the details in the notice. The court ordered that Chaudhry must be informed about the reasons for the issuance of the notice.