ISLAMABAD: Irfan Siddiqui – noted columnist and former close aide to the incarcerated three-time prime minister Nawaz Sharif – was sent on 14-day judicial remand on Saturday for violating tenancy laws in Islamabad.
Siddiqui along with his tenant, Javed Iqbal, was presented before the court of a magistrate, Mehreen Baloch, as police sought judicial remand – a request which was guaranteed, while rejecting the defence lawyer’s plea that the case was baseless and his client should be released.
Earlier, police arrested him along with Javed on late Friday night, accusing him of violating tenancy laws and renting out his house without informing them. Later, a case was registered under Section 188 with the Ramna Police Station.
Abdul Sattar Beg, investigation officer at the Ramna Police Station in Islamabad, said Siddiqui was arrested at 10:00 pm on Friday night.
"The arrest was made under the deputy commissioner’s order," he told Geo News. "The DC has imposed Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code in the city for a period of two months, starting from May."
Section 144 is a temporary order passed in “urgent cases of nuisance or to apprehend danger,” according to the Criminal Procedure Code.
Under the law, the officer added, the police are not required to serve anyone a notice or give prior warning before making an arrest.
“If Irfan Siddiqui is convicted, then he can be imprisoned for two to three months,” he said.
Meanwhile, PML-N spokesperson Marriyum Aurangzeb remarked that the incident had reminded the people of the “buffalo theft case”. She said Siddiqui had nothing to do with the house and he was not even a signatory to the rent agreement, as it was rented by his son.
On the other hand, Firdous Ashiq Awan, adviser to the prime minister on information, said they too had reservations over the case. The IG had sought the case details, she said, promising that there would be no injustice.
Siddiqui along with his tenant, Javed Iqbal, was presented before the court of a magistrate, Mehreen Baloch, as police sought judicial remand – a request which was guaranteed, while rejecting the defence lawyer’s plea that the case was baseless and his client should be released.
Earlier, police arrested him along with Javed on late Friday night, accusing him of violating tenancy laws and renting out his house without informing them. Later, a case was registered under Section 188 with the Ramna Police Station.
Abdul Sattar Beg, investigation officer at the Ramna Police Station in Islamabad, said Siddiqui was arrested at 10:00 pm on Friday night.
"The arrest was made under the deputy commissioner’s order," he told Geo News. "The DC has imposed Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code in the city for a period of two months, starting from May."
Section 144 is a temporary order passed in “urgent cases of nuisance or to apprehend danger,” according to the Criminal Procedure Code.
Under the law, the officer added, the police are not required to serve anyone a notice or give prior warning before making an arrest.
“If Irfan Siddiqui is convicted, then he can be imprisoned for two to three months,” he said.
Meanwhile, PML-N spokesperson Marriyum Aurangzeb remarked that the incident had reminded the people of the “buffalo theft case”. She said Siddiqui had nothing to do with the house and he was not even a signatory to the rent agreement, as it was rented by his son.
On the other hand, Firdous Ashiq Awan, adviser to the prime minister on information, said they too had reservations over the case. The IG had sought the case details, she said, promising that there would be no injustice.