From Abid Usman
LAHORE: A Lahore Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) on Monday sent PTI Chairman Imran Khan’s nephew Hassaan Niazi to jail on a 14-day judicial remand in the Zille Shah murder case and also approved his two-day transit remand to transfer him to Karachi in another case. On March 26, the Punjab police had transferred Niazi from Quetta to Lahore in connection with a case registered against him at Lahore’s Racecourse police station.
He was brought to Quetta from Islamabad on Saturday morning and despite being granted interim bail in the Quetta case, Niazi remained imprisoned for the day. The PTI leader was presented in ATC Judge Abher Gul Khan’s court today amid tight security.
During the hearing yesterday, the investigation officer requested the judge to grant a physical remand, saying that a photogrammetric test had to be carried out apart from the recovery of Niazi’s laptop and mobile phone.
“The attack and commotion took place at the behest of Niazi,” the IO told the court. “Physical remand should be given because all the incidents need to be investigated”.
As the hearing continued, Niazi’s lawyer presented his arguments. “He is a well-known lawyer and PTI leader.”
His lawyer said Niazi was implicated in the case due to “mala fide intentions”, adding that “an arrest in a wrong case is illegal.”
After the arguments of both sides were completed, Judge Gul reserved the verdict and announced it once the hearing resumed.
The judge approved a two-week judicial remand but rejected the police’s request for a physical remand.
