LAHORE: An Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) on Tuesday sent PML-N leader Nazir Ahmad Chohan, his son and six others on judicial remand.

Ex-MPA Mr Chohan was first arrested in the case of an armed clash between the PTI and PML-N workers during by-election for PP-167.

Mr Chohan is among the 25 PTI dissident lawmakers (including five on reserved seats) who voted for Hamza in the Punjab chief minister’s election in April and subsequently were de-seated by the ECP.

PTI had won 15 seats out of 20 general seats in the by-elections and succeeded in making PML-Q Parvez Elahi as Punjab chief minister in the second election for the top job in the province.

Court directs police for medical examination of ex-legislator, his son

On Monday evening, the Lahore police conducted a raid in Chuhng area and arrested ex-MPA Chohan, his son Saad Nazir and six others Abid Ali, Qamar Abbas, Rafaqat Ali, Qasim Ali, Hafiz Rizwan and Faisal Maqbol in connection with attack on PTI leader Khalid Gujjar.

The police also registered a second case against the ex-MPA, his son and body guards under sections 324, 353, 186, 506-B, 148 and 149 of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) and 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act 1997 at the Chung police station on Aug 1 for attacking a raiding team.

According to the FIR, police received information about Chohan’s whereabouts as he had already been nominated in a separate case. When he was pulled over, he disembarked from his vehicle and straightened his right hand in which he was allegedly carrying a pistol, it said.

Armed individuals accompanying Chohan also disembarked from another vehicle and allegedly opened fire on police, the FIR stated, adding that officials “saved their lives by laying flat on the ground”.

On Tuesday, the police had presented Chohan, his son and six others before an anti-terrorism court to seek physical remand.

The investigating officer said a case under terrorism charges was also registered against ex-MPA in Chuhang police station for opening fire and attacking policemen who raided to arrest him in a case.

He said the suspects were carrying heavy arms and they had [allegedly] attacked the police party to avoid the arrest.

He appealed to the court to give physical remand of the suspects to recover arms from them.

Chohan’s lawyer told the court that a case was registered against ex-MPA at the Johar Town police station and he was proven innocent in it.

He said there was no basis to arrest his client and he was nabbed on “political grounds.”

Meanwhile, Chohan along with his son showed marks of torture on their body parts and he told the court that police had not allowed him to take medicine from home after the arrest.

They also appealed for their medical examination.

ATC Judge Abhar Gul Khan directed the police to work under the law and rejected their plea for physical custody.

The court also directed the police to conduct a medical examination of Chohan and his son and also sent the ex-MPA and all others to jail on a 14-day judicial remand.

After the hearing, Nazir Chohan addressed the media and said that a judicial commission should be constituted to investigate the case against him.

He said he was not present when the police raided his house and nominated him in another case registered in the Chuhng police station.

He said he was present at Raiwind Road when the police raided his house. The police also tortured him and the SHO had snatched his car, mobile phone and Rs5 million. He appealed to Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa to take notice of the incident.

Special Assistant to Prime Minister Ata Tarar, Khwaja Salman Rafique and Khwaja Imran Nazir also visited the ATC to show solidarity with Chohan.

Published in Dawn, August 3rd, 2022