November 25, 2003	Tuesday	Ramazan 29, 1424

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ISLAMABAD, Nov 24: Judicial Magistrate Islamabad Amir Saleem Rana extended the judicial remand of PML-N leader Makhdoom Javed Hashmi for 14 more days.

The judicial magistrate also turned down Javed Hashmi’s plea for quashing the FIR registered against him for inciting mutiny in the armed forces. Defence lawyers, appearing on the PML-N leader’s behalf had contended that it should be quashed because of the prosecution’s failure to come up with a challan (prosecution brief) despite Mr Hashmi being kept in detention for three weeks.

The judge asked the officer in-charge of the investigation to produce the accused before him on Dec 8.

An application, seeking grant of bail, filed on behalf of the detained leader would be taken up for hearing on Tuesday.

Mr Hashmi, whose remand ended on Monday, was produced before the judicial magistrate at about 8am amid tight security.

Mr Hashmi ‘s lawyer, citing Section 344 of the CrPC and some decisions of the Supreme Court, said that the judicial magistrate could not extend the remand.

The judge ordered police officials, not concerned with the proceedings, to leave the courtroom after the PML-N leader’s counsel opposed their presence.

The judicial magistrate allowed Mr Hashmi to meet his lawyer separately. The 15-minute-long meeting took place in the judge’s chamber.

Earlier, Mr Hashmi told the judge that despite the court orders, the administration of the Central Jail, Adiyala, was paying no attention to his repeated requests for medical treatment.

He also complained about the jail authorities’ refusal to allow him to meet his lawyer, his relatives and friends.

He presented a list of family members and party leaders before the court whom he wanted to meet during his remand.