A sessions court on Wednesday granted a three-day physical remand of Zafar Hijazi, the former chairman of Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP), to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA).

Hijazi appeared in front of Senior Civil Judge Muhammad Shabbir after his earlier four-day remand ended. The FIA presented a report based on Hijazi's earlier remand and requested the court to hand him into their custody for another eight days.

However, the counsel for Hijazi, Aazid Nafees, argued that his client could not remain in custody for a long period of time because of his poor health.

After reviewing FIA's report, the judge gave the agency a three-day remand.

On July 22, Hijazi was taken to a hospital from the court in an ambulance when he was handed over to the FIA on a four-day remand. On that occasion, Nafees had presented the same argument along with a medical report prepared by the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS).

After reviewing PIMS' report, the judge had granted FIA a four-day remand.

Hijazi was taken into FIA custody earlier this month after a report released by the joint investigation team, probing Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his family's wealth, alleged that the former SECP chairman had altered records related to Chaudhry Sugar Mills.

Opinion

Editorial

Geopolitical games
Updated 18 Dec, 2024

Geopolitical games

While Assad may be gone — and not many are mourning the end of his brutal rule — Syria’s future does not look promising.
Polio’s toll
18 Dec, 2024

Polio’s toll

MONDAY’s attacks on polio workers in Karak and Bannu that martyred Constable Irfanullah and wounded two ...
Development expenditure
18 Dec, 2024

Development expenditure

PAKISTAN’S infrastructure development woes are wide and deep. The country must annually spend at least 10pc of its...
Risky slope
Updated 17 Dec, 2024

Risky slope

Inflation likely to see an upward trajectory once high base effect tapers off.
Digital ID bill
Updated 17 Dec, 2024

Digital ID bill

Without privacy safeguards, a centralised digital ID system could be misused for surveillance.
Dangerous revisionism
Updated 17 Dec, 2024

Dangerous revisionism

When hatemongers call for digging up every mosque to see what lies beneath, there is a darker agenda driving matters.