Islamabad’s accountability court granted a six-day physical remand for former federal minister Fawad Chaudhry on Saturday in connection with a corruption case related to alleged misappropriation in construction projects in Jhelum, as reported by Geo News.
The hearing, presided over by Accountability Court Judge Muhammad Bashir, took place following the completion of Fawad’s initial 10-day physical remand. The court stressed the completion of the investigation while allowing Fawad to consult with his legal counsel. The former minister is scheduled to appear before the court on January 5, 2024.
Fawad Chaudhry was taken into custody earlier this month by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on charges related to the corruption case. The arrest warrant, signed by NAB Chairman Lt-Gen (retd) Nazir Ahmed Butt, led to Fawad’s apprehension from Adiala Jail, where he was already detained in a separate fraud case.
During the court proceedings, Fawad, accompanied by his lawyer and brother Faisal Chaudhry, addressed four allegations against him. He defended his actions, stating that as a minister, he fulfilled his duty to convey the demands of his constituency to the government, particularly in projects approved under the Public Sector Development Programmes (PSDP).
The NAB prosecutor presented arguments, highlighting the request for a 14-day physical remand, which was granted for 10 days. The prosecutor mentioned the scrutiny of banking records indicating irregularities and the summoning of the contractor on January 2. Seeking a 10-day extension for further investigation, the NAB prosecutor emphasized the need to complete the inquiry.
Fawad Chaudhry’s arrest earlier in November was linked to a bribery complaint filed at Islamabad’s Aabpara Police Station, accusing him of accepting a PKR 5 million bribe for a job. The politician faced previous arrests in January and June for alleged threats to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) members and involvement in the PTI’s activities during the May 9 riots.
Fawad Chaudhry issued an apology in June for using “intemperate” language against the ECP. The former minister also participated in the launch of the Istihkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP) in June, headed by Jahangir Tareen, a close political aide to former PTI chief Imran Khan.
