Islamabad (Web Desk): A District and Sessions Court in Islamabad on Tuesday granted police a two-day physical remand of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan’s nephew and focal person on legal affairs Hassaan Niazi in a case related to misbehaving with officials.
Following the announcement of the verdict by Judicial Magistrate Abbas Shah, Niazi approached another sessions court against the decision which was subsequently fixed for hearing.
The court order said that despite the allegations against him, the suspect needed to be investigated in a “thorough and proper manner”.
“In view of the facts and circumstances narrated, two days physical remand of accused is granted subject to pre- and post-medical examination of the accused.
The accused be (sic) produced again before the court on March 23,” it added.
PTI lawyers Ali Bukhari, Qaiser Imam, Sheikh Afzal Marwat and Investigation Officer ASI Sajid were present during the hearing.
As the hearing starterd, Islamabad police sought 10-day physical remand of Niazi.
Niazi’s counsel shared that his client was granted interim bail by an Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC), adding that the closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage showed that the PTI leader was arrested when he was with the lawyers.
“What will the investigating officer investigate, the color of the vehicle or from where he was coming?” asked the lawyer. He added that Niazi was arrested before the case was registered and taken to different police stations.
“All police actions are illegal,” said Niazi’s counsel Ali Bukhari. He added that his client did not have any criminal record and was a professional lawyer.
The lawyer also told the court that the Islamabad High Court (IHC) had allowed Niazi to meet his legal team but he was denied the opportunity.
Bukhari maintained that a case should be dismissed on the basis of illegal actions taken by the police and action should be taken against the investigating officer.
"Niazi’s only crime is that he is the nephew of Imran Khan,” Marwat said during his arguments, lamenting that Islamabad has been turned into a police state.
Marwat said that the court is the custodian of justice. Every other day someone is arrested and then sent on judicial remand.
Ever since the Islamabad inspector general has assumed duty, the rights of common people are being violated,” he said.
PTI's lawyer Faisal Chaudhry stated that despite securing bail, PTI leaders had to leave the courts in secrecy.
Subsequently, the court reserved its verdict in the case and later granted police only two-day physical remand of the PTI leader.
Hassaan Niazi was arrested on Monday while he was leaving the Federal Judicial Complex (FJC) after securing pre-arrest bail in three cases.
The ATC had granted Niazi bail in cases registered against him and other PTI supporters in connection with violence that took place on February 28 and March 18 when PTI chief Imran appeared in the FJC.
