Court reserves verdict on PTI activist Sanam Javed’s physical remand request

A district and sessions court has reserved its decision on the Federal Investigation Agency’s (FIA) request for the physical remand of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) member and social activist Sanam Javed.

The PTI member was acquitted in a May 9 case by the Lahore High Court (LHC) last week and was rearrested by the Islamabad Police as soon as she stepped out of the Central Jail of Gujranwala on Saturday.

Sanam Javed was presented before Magistrate Malik Imran by FIA prosecutors, who sought her physical remand on Sunday (today).

Sanam Javed’s lawyer, Mian Ali Ashfaq, argued that the Lahore High Court(LHC) had already acquitted her, stating, “The Lahore High Court wrote that there is no legal evidence or proof against Sanam."

"This endless cycle of being acquitted and then arrested continues. She was moved from Lahore cases to Sargodha’s May 9 cases, and after being acquitted there, she was implicated in Gujranwala," Sanam's counsel stated.

On July 10, a division bench of the LHC, led by Justice Asjad Javed Ghural, discharged Sanam from the charges filed in Gujranwala in relation to the May 9, 2023, rioting.

Later, an anti-terrorism court (ATC) judge, Naeem Saleem, issued Sanam's release order, based on which the Gujranwala Central Jail authorities released her from prison on Saturday.

However, a heavy contingent of the Islamabad Police arrested the PTI leader as soon as she came out of the prison. All the roads leading to the prison remained closed for eight hours during this re-arrest drama.

Ashfaq further contended, “My client should be discharged from this case. The Advocate General of Punjab informed the Lahore High Court that Sanam Javed is no longer wanted in any case. With nothing against her in Punjab, they brought her here.”

The court reserved its decision on the FIA’s request for Sanam's physical remand.