Court approves Fawad Chaudhry's post-arrest bail in graft case

• Politician ordered to submit Rs200,000 surety bond.
• Fawad to contest upcoming elections, brother Faisal says.
• Not decided yet what party's ticket he will contest polls from.

RAWALPINDI: A special court in Rawalpindi on Monday approved the post-arrest bail of former federal minister Fawad Chaudhry in a corruption case.

The court directed the authorities to release the ex-minister from custody and ordered the accused to submit a surety bond of Rs200,000.

Fawad, a former Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) lawmaker, was arrested in November and initially remanded in police custody for two days in connection with an August 2022 case, where he was alleged to have accepted a Rs5 million bribe from a citizen.

Following an extension of his physical remand by a day, he was subsequently placed on judicial remand and is currently incarcerated at the Adiala jail.

Speaking with journalists outside the court, Fawad's brother and lawyer, Faisal Chaudhary, said the politician will contest the upcoming general elections, which are scheduled to take place on February 8, 2024.

However, it is yet to be decided on what party's ticket he will contest the polls, he added.

"This decision will come as a surprise," Faisal said.

Commenting on the rift between him and his sister-in-law, Hiba Fawad, the lawyer said she spoke because she has been worried.

"Hiba is my elder sister. [We] will resolve the domestic matter at home."

Meanwhile, the former minister’s release is unlikely as the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) arrested Fawad in a different corruption case.

NAB Chairman Lt-Gen (retd) Nazir Ahmed Butt had signed an arrest warrant for Chaudhry after which he was taken into custody from the Adiala jail.

According to the warrant, the former information minister was arrested in a corruption case and will be produced before the court.

Fawad was also among the thousands of party workers and leaders who were arrested during the crackdown on the PTI after the May 9 violence for the party’s alleged involvement in the riots.

In June, the former minister was among the PTI leaders who were present during the launching ceremony of the Istihkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP), which is headed by Khan's close political aide Jahangir Tareen.