Rejecting Margallah police’s request for a two-day physical remand of Mohsin Baig, an anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Islamabad on Wednesday sent the journalist to jail on a 14-day judicial remand, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

The court ordered the police to produce the suspect on March 8.

Earlier, the judge asked the police whether it had finished questioning the suspect. “Have you got the video you were looking for? And what about the polygraph test?” he questioned.

Counsel for the state replied yes the suspect had gone through the test.

Lawyers, representing Baig on the occasion, complained to the court that they were not allowed to meet with their client despite court orders. “This clearly is a case of contempt of court,” they opined.  

They asked as to what was the requirement for the video when there was no mention of it in the FIR. Twice the police raided the journalist’s home in search of the video, but had to return empty-handed, they added.

They further asked as to what information police had extracted from Beg during the eight-day long interrogation.

Therefore, the lawyers added, it was prayed to the court not to grant further physical remand of the journalist to the police.

Mohsin Baig, on the other hand, accused the police of tampering with his medical report.

Later talking to the media, Baig said that the government was using state machinery against him. “I am not a terrorist that I should be treated like this,” he asserted and claimed that Prime Minister Imran Khan was worried because he knew his days in the office were over.

“It was the prime minister’s ex-wife who had levelled allegations against him as well as the federal minister. But, the government is making me pay the price for that,” he regretted.

A large number of members of journalists’ bodies and media personnel were present inside the Judicial Complex to show their solidarity with the detained journalist.

On the other hand, police too had made tight security arrangements to prevent any untoward incident.     

Mohsin Beg had been picked up from his home in Islamabad around a week ago after he gave the reference of PM Imran’s ex-wife’s book concerning Federal Minister Murad Saeed.

Reporter: Ihtesham Kiani