Was Fawad Chaudhry’s arrest a foul play? Shafaqna Exclusive

by Tauqeer Abbas
132 views

The arrest of Pakistan Tehrik Insaf leader and former Federal Information Minister Ch Fawad Hussain was perhaps inevitable, in view of the charge, which was that of inciting violence against the Chief Election Commissioner’s family, but the manner was all too drearily familiar.

It is no justification to say that such arrests of political opponents took place when Mr Chaudhry was in office. However, it does seem that the legal formalities are being observed so far, as Mr Chaudhry was produced after arrest before a magistrate, and the arresting authority, Islamabad’s Kohsar police, was granted transit remand, which allowed it to take him from Lahore to Islamabad, and again produce him before a magistrate in Islamabad, which duly granted the police remand.

However, it remains to be seen whether the niceties continue to be observed. It would be most unfortunate if Mr Chaudhry was meted out the same treatment as Shahbaz Gill or Senator Azam Swati, both of whom alleged they were tortured in custody.

The ugliness that played out all day yesterday on national television has also provided a fillip to the PTI’s narrative about being persecuted by the government at the centre, as well as the newly installed caretaker regime in Punjab. The Election Commission, too, has walked itself right back into the thick of controversy when it should have been focusing on preparing for elections in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab.

The case against Mr Chaudhry, lodged by the ECP secretary, accuses him of “threatening” the electoral body’s members and its families. The charges registered in the FIR include criminal intimidation, making a statement conducing to mischief, promoting enmity between groups, and sedition.

Of particular concern is the latter charge — that Mr Chaudhry has committed sedition with his words. It was unclear at the time these lines were being written what Mr Chaudhry may have said to have justified the charge. The PTI leadership’s opposition to the current ECP set-up, particularly the chief election commissioner, is well-known. They have been quite unreserved in their criticism of the electoral watchdog’s senior officers for many months now.

To arrest Mr Chaudhry in the manner in which he was and then charge him with sedition, of all things, seems to be a gross overreaction. If this is how those in power believe stability is to be attained while the country’s social fabric frays under the weight of the many crises it faces, they are gravely mistaken.

The country has already reached a point of despair so deep that many are publicly advocating packing up and leaving the country. Does the state really need to fan public discontent in a period as fraught with uncertainty as this?

Shafaqna Pakistan

pakistan.shafaqna.com

You may also like