Fawad Chaudhry, senior vice president of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), bail was accepted in the sedition on Wednesday.
An additional sessions court in Islamabad accepted the bail of the former minister, who is charged with sedition for publicly “threaten[ing]” the members of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) in a media interview.
Fawad was taken into custody from his Lahore home on January 25 after a case was filed against him at Islamabad’s Kohsar Police Station.
Additional Sessions Judge Faizan Gillani granted the former federal minister of information’s bail request. With the caveat that Fawad should refrain from making such comments in the future, Gillani conditionally approved the petition. Accordingly, the court approved the bail of Rs 20,000 surety bonds.
The decision was made after the former federal minister of information was brought before the court after his two-day remand expired.
Babar Awan, Fawad’s attorney, asked the court to grant his client’s bail request at the beginning of today’s hearing. “The country doesn’t think someone should be charged with such a crime just for saying two words.”
The court then questioned the attorney about what Fawad meant when he threatened the family members of the ECP officials after asking Awan to read out the charges against the PTI leader.
The judge remarked that Fawad is a senior lawyer and a parliament member. In response, Awan claimed that Shireen Mazari, the PTI leader, had previously been referred to as “Tractor Trolley.”.
The judge inquired more about what Fawad meant when he referred to the ECP members’ families. When a political leader says such things, do you know what it can lead to? The questioner asked Awan. “Do you (Awan) know the literacy rate in Pakistan?
Judge Gillani then pointed out to Awan that PTI Chairman Imran Khan had also used a similar tone when speaking about his colleague, Additional Sessions Judge Zeba Chaudhry.
Awan informed the judge, “Yes, I have also dealt with that matter.
Following Awan’s arguments, the prosecutor opposed Fawad’s bail, claiming that the election commission officials were singled out and referred to as “Munshi.”.
In addition to saying on live television that it was “mandatory to revolt” in the nation, the prosecutor claimed that Fawad’s comments incited people to oppose the election commission.
He continued by saying that Fawad is the subject of official police evidence.
According to ECP attorney Saad Hassan, the PTI leader underwent voice and photogrammetric matching tests while in custody. The judge responded by asking, “What was the need for these tests when Fawad had accepted the statements?”.
“Fawad Chaudhry may change his earlier testimony during the trial. However, given that he has acknowledged making the statement, we don’t need to question it further.”
The attorney for the election commission added that more research could be done at any point in the case.
The judge responded by stating that Fawad should not have made these statements but still approved his ba.
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