- Kasier was accused of corrupt practices which caused a loss of Rs 16 million to the exchequer.
- The former speaker was taken into custody by ICT Police, ACE on Friday.
- Corruption related to Swabi has been cited in the FIR Gajju Khan Medical College.
Islamabad: Former Speaker of the National Assembly and senior leader of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Asad Qaiser was sent to Adiala Jail by the Judicial Magistrate on Saturday.
The veteran politician was on Friday taken into custody by the police and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) from his Islamabad residence over alleged corruption in purchases related to Swabi’s Gajju Khan Medical College.
The first information report (FIR), filed on the complaint of former ACE investigating officer Hidayat Shah, has accused the cashier and four health department officials of causing a loss of Rs 16.456 million to the exchequer by “stealing” equipment and purchasing substandard furniture.
Islamabad Police today produced Kasier before a judicial magistrate in Islamabad, seeking remand of the veteran PTI leader in a corruption case.
Meanwhile, PTI’s legal team including Shoaib Shaheen barrister Gohar Ali Khan urged the court to “free” the PTI leader.
,[We] “Asad is filing an application for protective bail for Qaiser,” Shaheen told the judicial magistrate.
The lawyer also questioned why KP Police did not arrest Qaiser from KP as he frequently visits the province.
“Who gave Islamabad Police the authority to arrest Qassir?”.
“KP Police had written to Islamabad Police to arrest Kasier,” Shaheen said, “if KP Anti-Corruption Police had sought the assistance of Federal Capital Police.” [then] it would have been different [matter],
Apart from this, Barrister Khan also criticized the manner in which Qaiser was taken into custody.
“There is a way [and procedure] To make arrests,” Khan said.
He also questioned whether KP Police had a warrant to arrest the PTI leader.
Meanwhile, commenting on Kasier’s bail prospects, the judge said that the judicial magistrate court cannot grant bail to the PTI leader.
The court then directed the authorities to shift the veteran PTI leader to Adiala jail, where he will be kept in judicial lockup – until the ACE shifts him to KP.
It is pertinent to mention that PTI’s top leadership, including its Chairman and Vice Chairman Imran Khan and Shah Mehmood Qureshi respectively, are behind bars in the same facility pending trial in the Sifar case.
Qaiser’s arrest is a major blow to the party as the veteran politician could have played a key role in “reconciliation” efforts in the light of his meeting with Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazal (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman. month.
The party condemned his arrest in a statement and expressed concern about the transparency of the elections to be held on February 8, 2024.
The party spokesperson said, “The arrest of Asad Qaiser is a question mark on the role of the Election Commission in conducting fair elections. The series of arrests of leaders is a conspiracy to keep PTI out of the election race.”
