Court extends Fawad’s physical remand

ISLAMABAD: A local court on Friday extended the physical remand of former federal minister Fawad Chaudhry in a corruption case related to development projects in Jhelum.

Accountability Court, Islamabad, Judge Muhammad Bashir, extended the physical remand of Fawad for four days. The court also accepted Fawad’s request for a meeting with his family.

The physical remand was extended on a request by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) as the anti-graft watchdog’s prosecutor apprised the court that they had to recover banking records related to the suspect. After examining seven bank accounts, NAB found some of the transactions “suspicious”, the prosecutor said, adding that they had doubts about the former federal minister “receiving bribes”. After hearing arguments from both sides, the accountability court served the verdict, which was later announced. In its verdict, the court granted NAB a four-day extension in Fawad’s physical remand and directed the officials to produce the suspect before the court on January 9. It is pertinent to mention here that NAB had taken Fawad into custody on December 16 in the corruption case. NAB Chairman Lt-Gen (retd) Nazir Ahmed Butt had signed an arrest warrant for Fawad after which he was taken into custody from the Adiala jail where he was incarcerated in the fraud case. On December 20, the anti-graft watchdog got a 10-day physical remand of the former federal minister. After completion of the remand, Fawad was presented before the court on December 30. During the course of proceedings, NAB Prosecutor Irfan Bhola told the court that the former PTI leader was under interrogation and was divulging details related to alleged irregularities.