The LHC rejects Fawad's "inadmissible" argument that his incarceration is unlawful.

 The court was informed that Fawad had been detained by Islamabad police and was being held on a temporary remand.

Fawad Chaudhary, the leader of the PTI, is shown in a photo taken by Islamabad police on January 25, 2023.

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) refused a request to free PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry who had been detained on Wednesday, stating that the case was "no longer acceptable."

A request for Fawad's release from "illegal and unlawful incarceration" by Punjab's Counter-Terrorism Department was being heard by Justice Tariq Saleem of the LHC (CTD).

The PTI leader was not brought into court by the police, therefore the LHC called the inspectors general of Punjab and Islamabad to find out which agency had detained Fawad.

Early in the morning, Fawad Chaudhry was taken into custody on suspicion of sedition and "inciting violence against a constitutional institution."

But later in the evening, the inspector general of Punjab police informed the court that Fawad had been taken into custody and was now being held on a temporary detention by Islamabad police.

Hours after being detained by the Kohsar police in the capital city of Lahore after being taken from the provincial capital, a magisterial court in Cantt Lahore approved Fawad's temporary detention to the Islamabad police.

The PTI leader's incarceration was not unlawful, hence the LHC ruled that the plea was no longer admissible in light of this knowledge.

Earlier today, the court instructed the Islamabad police to bring Fawad Chaudhry into court, regardless of whether he had "reached Islamabad or was on the highway."

The federal government or the provincial government may have been added as parties to the case, but the capital police refused to clarify this.

Infuriated by the response, Justice Tariq Saleem Sheikh vowed to "ensure court orders are enforced" and ordered the police to bring the PTI leader before the LHC even if he had "reached Islamabad or was on the highway."

Fawad was being escorted toward the highway rather than being brought before the court, according to the petitioner's attorneys, lawyer Muhammad Ahmad Pansota and advocate Azhar Siddique, who also claimed that this constituted contempt of court.

Justice Sheikh said he would listen to law officer Jawad Yaqoob's comments after the order had been followed when the court resumed its proceedings after a brief break.

Finally, Justice Sheikh directed the IGPs of Punjab and Islamabad to present Fawad before the court and summoned them to appear at LHC by 6 pm today.

Hours after being taken into custody by the Kohsar police of the capital from the provincial capital, the Cantt Lahore magisterial court earlier in the day approved Fawad's temporary remand to the Islamabad police.

Fawad was the subject of a first information report (FIR) filed by Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) Secretary Umar Hameed for "inciting violence against a constitutional institution."

The FIR was filed in accordance with Pakistani Penal Code Sections 153-A (Promotion of Enmity Between Groups), 506 (Criminal Intimidation), 505 (Statement Promising Public Mischief), and 124-A (Sedition).

As per reports, Fawad's transit remand was taken from Lahore and he will be transferred to Islamabad today.

The concerned parties have been ordered by judicial magistrate Mudasar Hayat to present the former minister before the appropriate court in the federal capital today.

The PTI leader was also ordered to undergo a medical examination at Services Hospital Lahore by the court.

LHC Request

The PTI leader asked the Lahore magistrate court to give him a copy of the FIR filed against him as the session got underway.

Fawad informed the court that he is a former federal minister and Supreme Court of Pakistan (SC) attorney after receiving a copy of the document, adding that the "behaviour used during his detention was not proper."

The PTI leader pleaded with the court to compel the police to treat him with dignity and to order a medical examination for him.

Fawad's attorneys expressed their concern with the former minister being presented in handcuffs throughout their argument. They said that in this regard, a resolution had been approved prohibiting handcuffs for attorneys.

They further told the court that Fawad's habeas corpus petition is now being heard by the Lahore High Court (LHC), hence the order to remand him in transit should be suspended pending the outcome of that case.

Speaking to the media after his detention, Fawad declared that he was "happy" to have been named in the FIR that led to his imprisonment. He said that those who had him imprisoned would "soon be embarrassed."

He made fun of the numerous security personnel stationed all around the court by remarking, "It looks James Bond is being produced before the court."

Faraz Chaudhry, a demonstrator over the former minister's imprisonment, was reportedly detained in Jhelum, Rawalpindi, according to the PTI leader's brother.

According to rumours, Faraz was transferred by the Jhelum police to the CIA headquarters.

The former minister threatened the ECP members, their families, and others with reprisal actions just hours before his detention if "those involved in the May 25 incident - police crackdown to block PTI expedition to Islamabad - were appointed or remain appointed."

He had said, "We have formally complained to the Election Commission that those who were actively involved in the crackdown on the PTI protest on May 25 should not be appointed in Punjab.

In a speech on Tuesday, Fawad reportedly stated that the ECP had the same status as a "secretary," adding that the "chief election commissioner signs documents like a clerk."

 The caretaker of [Punjab] government will be followed until they are punished”.

While harshly criticising Mohsin Naqvi's selection as Punjab's caretaker chief minister during the news conference, the PTI leader added that "those who are being selected as the caretaker of [Punjab] government would be followed until they are punished."

Imran Khan, the leader of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf and a former prime minister, earlier said that he will stage nationwide protests against the ECP's choice of Naqvi as interim chief minister of Punjab and dubbed him "an enemy of PTI."