Asad Qaiser remanded in KP ACE custody

By Khalid Iqbal

November 14, 2023

Former speaker of the National Assembly Asad Qaiser speaks in this image on May 4, 2023. — Facebook/Asad Qaiser

ISLAMABAD: Judicial Magistrate Qudrat Ullah granted custody of former speaker of the National Assembly Asad Qaiser to the KP Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) on transit remand Monday.

Asad Qaiser, a leader of the Pakistan Tehreek Insaf, was brought to court from Adiala Jail by the police. Officials from the Anti-Corruption Department (KP) informed the court that Asad Qaiser was involved in a case registered in Swabi.

The Anti-Corruption officials urged the court to grant them transit remand for Asad Qaiser, and the court accepted the request, allowing the PTI leader to be placed in their custody. On November 4, Asad Qaiser was remanded to Adiala Jail in connection with an alleged corruption case. On that day, he appeared before a local court, presided over by Judicial Magistrate Qudratullah, accompanied by the police.

The court was apprised that Qaiser was arrested in a corruption case in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, following a request by the Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE). Shoaib Shaheen, representing Asad Qaiser, challenged the arrest procedure by the capital police, asserting it was beyond their jurisdiction and characterised it as “undue haste.”

Shaheen said that Qaiser’s arrest was strategically timed after the announcement of the election date, alleging political motives.

The lawyer expressed intentions to file for protective bail for his client. However, the court ruled against granting protective bail at the present stage. Meanwhile, Qaiser’s judicial remand was accepted, tasking the K-P police with completing legal formalities within a week.

Qaiser was taken into custody from his residence in Banigala by a joint task force of Anti-Corruption Establishment KP and Islamabad police. Following the arrest, Qaiser was moved to an undisclosed location.

The PTI, through its Central Media Department, condemned Qaiser’s arrest, labeling it a “shameful” act coinciding with the election date announcement. The party raised concerns about the transparency of the electoral process leading up to the elections.