The firebrand senator is in trouble with the law again after sending slanderous tweets from his Twitter handle.
By Naveed Naqvi
ISLAMABAD: A Judicial Magistrate here Sunday remanded Senator Azam Khan Swati to two days of physical custody of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA).
Duty Judge Waqas Ahmed Raja briefly reserved his judgement after hearing the two sides when Swati was produced before him Sunday. The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) senator was represented by Babar Awan and Faisal Chaudhry.
The court asked the investigating officer why Swati had been arrested. The investigating officer said that Azam Swati has made some controversial tweets that led to the arrest. The tweeting account belongs to Azam Swati, he said, and asserted no one is above the law.
The investigating officer further said that accused has not denied the tweet, and that he has committed this crime for the second time.
Swati’s lawyers said a narrative is being created, and FIRs have been registered against members of their party earlier on the same narrative. Babar Awan said that the tweets made do not merit the provisions of the FIR.
Awan maintained the statement taken by the police has no legal status. He pointed out that Azam Swati’s statement under 164 CrPC had not been recorded. He claimed Swati was brutally tortured the last time he was arrested, and was still suffering and has not been able to recover from this violence.
The senator’s team also said his Azam Swati’s life is also in danger. They demanded that the FIA officials make a statement that if anything happens to Azam Swati in their custody, they will be responsible.
Babar Awan emphasized that the names of the FIA officials who has Swati’s custody should be put on the order sheet. The duty judge said he would only name those who present in the courtroom.
Later, as the court reserved the decision, the FIA team took Swati from the court. They had requested Azam Swati’s physical remand for 8 days. The court, in the ruling announced after a brief waiting, allowed only two days of custody.
Talking to the media outside the court, Babar Awan lamented that a senior citizen has been booked. He pointed out that Azam Swati has been booked for the second time, and repeated his allegation that the senator had been brutally tortured the first time he was arrested.
Copyright © 2021 Independent Pakistan | All rights reserved
