PMLN's Chaudhary Tanvir moved to Rawalpindi as family seeks access

Maryam says he was illegally detained in Karachi

Rizwan Alam | Usman Khan Mar 12, 2022

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Vice-President Maryam Nawaz has said that former Senator Chaudhary Tanvir was “illegally detained” in Karachi.

Tanvir was arrested at Karachi s Jinnah International Airport Friday night as he was trying to leave the country.

Family and party claimed his whereabouts were unknown to them. SAMAA TV’s Umar Asif Saturday evening reported that Tanvir is being held at Rawalpindi’s Cantt Police Station and will be presented before a magistrate. Earlier, reports suggested he was transported to Lahore in a PIA flight from Karachi.

Taking to Twitter, the PML-N vice president claimed Tanvir was brought to Lahore without a transit remand.

“He is a chronic heart patient and on medication,” Maryam tweeted. “The family has been trying to deliver medicines but access not being given.”

Ch. Tanveer sb was illegally detained in Karachi, then bought to Lhr without transit bail. He’s a chronic heart patient & on medication. The family has been trying to deliver medicines but access not being given. What a shame.
— Maryam Nawaz Sharif (@MaryamNSharif) March 12, 2022

Tanvir was taken into custody by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) from Jinnah International Airport Karachi where he was “trying to flee” to Dubai on Friday night.

The arrest was made on the complaint of Punjab’s anti-corruption department. It had been conducting raids to arrest the PML-N leader after registering a case against him for allegedly grabbing government lands.

According to the investigation agency, FIA officials handed over Tanvir to Punjab’s anti-corruption department.

On Thursday, an anti-corruption team had raided the residence of the PML-N leader in Rawalpindi to arrest him but he was not there. His name was put on the watch list and the case was registered against him in Rawalpindi.

He has been booked under Sections 167 (incorrect document), 401 (association with thieves), 420 (cheating), 467 (forgery) and 471 (fraud) of the Pakistan Penal Code and Section 5 (criminal misconduct) of the Pakistan Criminal Act.

A special anti-corruption team moved Tanvir to Lahore via Pakistan International Airline flight, SAMAA TV’s Rizwan Alam reported Saturday noon.

The former lawmaker has been accused of occupying 64,000 kanals of government land in Rawalpindi.

“The former senator built an illegal house and a plaza on the occupied land,” SAMAA TV correspondent Tikka Khan Sani reported.

The Lahore-based correspondent added that the investigation started in 2020.

In 2020, the revenue department and Rawalpindi Development Authority sealed Tavir’s Walayat Complex.

The wall of Tanvir’s house was also demolished during the operation. He, at the time, had accused the government for “politicaly victimising” him and had said the operations were conducted without any solid proof.