Rawalpindi Court approves the post-arrest bail of Fawad Ahmed Chaudhry in a corruption case

RAWALPINDI, Dec 18 (SABAH): A special court in Rawalpindi on Monday approved the post-arrest bail of former federal minister Fawad Ahmed Chaudhry in a corruption case.

The former PTI leader was produced before the court of Special Judge Ali Nawaz, who accepted his bail against surety bonds worth Rs200,000. The judge added that Fawad be released if he was not proclaimed in any other case.

However, the ex-minister would not be able to secure release as he is currently under detention in another corruption case.

Speaking to reporters outside the court, Fawad’s brother Faisal Fareed Chaudhry Advocate said Fawad would contest the upcoming elections but did not disclose which symbol he would contest from. “It will be a surprise,” he added.

Fawad was arrested last month and remanded in police custody for two days in connection with an August 2022 case for allegedly taking Rs5 million bribe from a citizen.

He was later sent on judicial remand in the case. On Dec 11, the court granted the Punjab Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) a one-day physical remand of Fawad in a graft case.

On Saturday, it emerged that the Islamabad National Accountability Bureau had issued arrest warrants for the former PTI stalwart, accusing him of “commission of the offence of corruption and corrupt practices” under Section 9(a) of the NAB ordinance.

The warrant, issued by NAB chairman Lt. Gen (retired) Nazir Ahmed Butt, ordered for Fawad to be “produced before the court for authorisation of detention for such period as may be necessary for finalisation of the inquiry”.

Subsequently, an Islamabad sessions court had allowed the NAB to implement the arrest warrant and interrogate the ex-minister.

Fawad was one of many PTI leaders who had left the party following violence in the country on May 9, when former prime minister Imran Khan was arrested from the Islamabad High Court premises.

Although Fawad had said at the time that he was “taking a break from politics”, he was seen at the launch ceremony of the Jahangir Khan Tareen-led Istehkam-i-Pakistan Party (IPP) in June.

However, Fawad has kept quiet on whether he is officially a part of the IPP — which has been joined by several PTI leaders in the aftermath on May 9.

Speaking with journalists outside the court, Fawad’s brother and lawyer, Faisal Chaudhary, said the politician will contest the upcoming general elections, which are scheduled to take place on February 8, 2024. However, it is yet to be decided on what party’s ticket he will contest the polls, he added. “This decision will come as a surprise,” Faisal said.

Commenting on the rift between him and his sister-in-law, Hiba Fawad, the lawyer said she spoke because she has been worried.

“Hiba is my elder sister. [We] will resolve the domestic matter at home.”