KARACHI: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Ali Zaidi’s three-day physical remand has been approved by a local court in Karachi on Monday in a case filed against him for “issuing threats and fraud”.
Ali Zaidi was taken into custody on Saturday on charges of issuing threats and fraud in a case filed against him at the Ibrahim Hyderi Police Station in Karachi by a citizen named Fazal Elahi.
During the hearing on Monday, the court also rejected the PTI leader’s plea seeking discharge from the case. Zaidi was presented before a judicial magistrate in Malir District.
During hearing, Zaidi’s lawyer argued that the alleged offense does not constitute a criminal act and falls under the jurisdiction of a civil court. The lawyer also raised objections to the delay in filing the complaint, as the incident dates back to 2013.
Ali Zaidi denied charges
Additionally, the lawyer questioned the police’s authority to register a case after such a long period. The lawyer further requested that Zaidi be discharged under Section 63 of CrPC, citing a lack of witnesses to support the complainant’s claim of a large sum of money being involved.
Zaidi himself claimed that the police did not present him before the court within 24 hours of his arrest as required by law, but the police contended that he was arrested after midnight. Zaidi also denied having any connection with the complainant and stated that he was not in the country on the day of the incident.
On the other hand, the petitioner’s lawyer argued that Zaidi was involved in the real estate business and called for an investigation into alleged “financial murders.” The lawyer also accused Zaidi’s defense of attempting to divert the case towards political victimization. Finally, the petitioner’s lawyer requested that the court send Zaidi into physical remand.
The court reserved the verdict and later announced the approval of Zaidi’s three-day physical remand. The case remains ongoing.
