Fawad Chaudhry sprints back inside court to avoid re-arrest
ISLAMABAD: Fawad Chaudhry, a Pakistani politician and leader of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, evaded arrest minutes after being released by the Islamabad High Court (IHC). He had secured bail from the court but police moved to detain him as he left the building. When he saw the officers approaching, Chaudhry ran back into the IHC building to evade arrest.
The police attempted to arrest him despite him submitting an undertaking not to violate Section 144 or participate in protests.
Earlier, the IHC had declared the arrests of Chaudhry, Shireen Mazari, and Senator Falak Naz “illegal” under Section 3 of the Maintenance of Public Ordinance. The court had ordered their release while hearing separate pleas. During Chaudhry’s hearing, the Islamabad Advocate General argued that he had not been arrested in any case and that he had to prove himself to be a peaceful citizen. The court reserved its verdict.
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In a separate hearing, the IHC ordered the release of PTI leader Shireen Mazari and declared her arrest under Section 3 of the Maintenance of Public Order illegal. Mazari’s daughter had approached the IHC for her release. The district magistrate ordered Mazari’s arrest for allegedly inciting PTI workers and for fears that she may harm the law and order situation.
However, Mazari’s counsel explained to the court that she was in court since May 9 and had not made any public statement. The former minister’s location at home can be checked through CCTV footage and call data records. The court ordered the district magistrate to appear with the material on record.
