Pakistan: Court to indict Fawad Chaudhry in fraud case on February 10

Islamabad: Court has decided to indict Pakistan's former Minister of Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry in an alleged fraud case on February 10, Pakistan-based ARY News reported. According to details, Fawad Chaudhry's lawyer Qaiser Imam Mirza Baig appeared before the court. Mirza requested the court to extend the indictment date as he required time to review the case. The court then adjourned the hearing of the fraud case against Fawad Chaudhry till February 10.
Earlier, the Islamabad Accountability Court extended the physical remand of Fawad Chaudhry for allegedly being involved in financial irregularities in construction projects. The Duty Judge Shahrukh Arjumand of the Accountability Court presided over the hearing, according to ARY News report. During the hearing, the NAB requested an extension in the physical remand of Fawad Chaudhry for 10 days. After hearing the argument from both sides, the duty judge approved the two-day physical remand and sent Fawad Chaudhry under NAB's custody, according to ARY News report. Fawad Chaudhry and his group have announced the boycott of the upcoming elections set to be held on February 8. According to details, Chaudhry wrote a letter to the Election Commission of Pakistan in which it said that there was no point in such polls in which 'there is no right to choose.' Currently, Chaudhry is in prison over allegations of financial irregularities in the development projects in Punjab's Jhelum. On January 18, the Pakistan accountability court approved the judicial remand of Fawad Chaudhry in a case related to financial fraud in Jhelum Development Projects, ARY News reported.
As per ARY News reported, the police presented Fawad Chaudhry before Judge Muhammad Bashir, in which the court after approval of the judicial remand granted class B facilities to the accused. 
Earlier this month, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) indicted former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan and former minister Fawad Chaudhry in a case of contempt against the electoral body and the chief election commissioner, Geo News reported. The electoral body had initiated contempt proceedings against the former PM, former party leader Asad Umar and Chaudhary for insulting the commission and its chief during various public meetings, press conferences and several interviews, according to news report. According to the notice, politicos face the charges of passing unparliamentary, intemperate, and contemptuous remarks against the ECP on various occasions.