RAWALPINDI: The Anti-Terrorism Court has extended the physical remand of former federal minister Azam Swati in a case related to rioting and vandalism.
The hearing took place in Rawalpindi, where Judge Amjad Ali Shah presided and Swati was presented before the court.
During the proceedings, police requested an extension of Swati’s physical remand, which the court granted.
The court approved a seven-day extension, ordering Swati to reappear on November 21. A case against Swati is registered at the Taxila police station, citing charges of vandalism, rioting, and the Anti-Terrorism Act. Swati was initially arrested by the Taxila police on November 5.
It may be noted that Swati’s was re-arrested on November 6 shortly after securing bail in eight other FIRs registered in Islamabad on November 4.
This new arrest was based on an FIR at PS Wahdat Colony, Taxila, where Swati is accused of inciting violence during PTI’s October 4 protest in the capital. Presented before the Anti-Terrorism Court in Rawalpindi, the court initially granted police two days of physical custody, according to Swati’s counsel, Advocate Sohail Khan.
The Taxila police took the PTI leader into custody in a case filed under The Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997. Azam Swati has been charged along with PTI founder Imran Khan, Islamabad President Aamir Masood Mughal Khan.
During his court appearance, Swati informed the judge of alleged police mistreatment, including incidents at Attock jail, where he claimed to have been tortured. Swati also told the judge that police had broken his glasses during the arrest, raising concerns over his treatment in custody.
The November 4 ruling had earlier been seen as a significant development in the long ongoing legal proceedings against Swati.
The session, overseen by Judge Abul Hasanat Zul-Qarnain, included arguments from both the prosecution, represented by Raja Naveed, and Swati’s defense lawyer, Sohail Advocate, regarding bail applications linked to financial support for the D Chowk protest. Despite the prosecution’s opposition, the court approved Swati’s post-arrest bail with a bail amount set at Rs20,000 for each case.
Simultaneously, the Islamabad High Court had addressed matters related to Swati’s physical remand. Justices Mian Gul Hassan Aurangzeb and Arbab Muhammad Tahir reviewed the case, noting that records for all 13 cases had been requested. The defense argued that the procedural timeline supported the current remand duration.
During the proceedings, the Registrar’s Office presented a report on the notice issuance to involved parties. Justice Aurangzeb raised concerns about the office’s efficiency, as the Prosecutor General reported no notices had been received despite regular checks.
The court had then ordered an inquiry into the notice issuance process and requested the Registrar High Court to provide clarification.
Swati’s legal troubles date back to last year when he was declared a proclaimed offender in a controversial tweets case filed by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA).
