Aamer Farooq, the interim chief justice of the Islamabad High Court (IHC), questioned the motivation behind the authorities’ demand for PTI leader Shahbaz Gill’s physical custody on Monday.
The issue was brought up by Justice Farooq as he listened to the prosecution’s arguments on the viability of a petition filed by Islamabad Attorney General Jahangir Khan Jadoon challenging a session court’s decision to deny a request for Gill’s physical remand.
“You’re suggesting it’s necessary to extend the suspect’s physical detention, is that correct? What are your plans after you have the extension?” Justice Farooq raised a query.
After making divisive comments on an ARY News broadcast, Gill was detained last week on suspicion of sedition and encouraging mutiny in the armed forces. Later, to the initial information report filed against Gill, a new accusation of destroying evidence and providing false information was added.
Gill was placed in custody on judicial remand on August 13 after a judicial magistrate turned down the police’s request to extend his physical remand. The prosecution also filed an appeal in a sessions court that day, which was also rejected.
The government then requested Gill’s physical custody in the IHC, claiming that without it, the ongoing investigation into him and the gathering of evidence would be unable to proceed.
The prosecution has argued that an extension of Gill’s remand in police custody is necessary in order to finish the investigation against him and gather evidence.
Justice Farooq questioned the prosecution regarding the status of the case at the beginning of today’s hearing.
The judge was apprised of the lower courts’ rulings regarding the PTI leader’s physical remand by Islamabad Advocate General Jadoon. He continued by saying that the government has filed a lawsuit against Gill after taking “serious notice” of his broadcast comments that “targeted the country’s institutions.”
He claimed that the man’s comments were directed at organizations that had made significant sacrifices for the nation.
The expiration of Gill’s physical remand and the subsequent denial of an appeal against the decision to not prolong the remand, however, was “reality,” Justice Farooq emphasized to him.
The review petition that had been denied by a lower court was subsequently the subject of arguments on its maintainability.
Raja Rizwan Abbasi, the prosecutor’s attorney, then argued that the plea was maintainable and referenced numerous court decisions to back up his claim.
Haseeb Chaudhry, the case’s investigating officer and special prosecutor, furthermore made an appearance before the court today in addition to him and Jadoon.
‘PTI stands with Gill’
Fawad Chaudhry, the leader of the PTI, claimed that Gill was being victimized because he was not one of the “powerful.”
Speaking to the media in Islamabad, Fawad poked fun at the PML-N by claiming that Gill’s father was being tortured because he didn’t have a “setup” in Pakistan or hold the position of prime minister.
“This is the policy of Rana Sanaullah which is being applied in the country,” he claimed, adding that other party employees were receiving the same treatment.
He continued by claiming that the current administration had likewise used excessive force on defenseless civilians, women, and children. Shahbaz Gill is experiencing the same thing.
Fawad was also shocked that the high court was considering a writ petition involving the physical remand of a suspect, especially given the political character of the case.
The government claims that it wants Gill’s cellphone back and possession of him so they can torture him once more. He asserted. He continued by claiming that Gill made the contentious remarks on Muharram 10 when mobile phone operations were halted.
“You have the landline number that was used to make the call. You can also access the live broadcast of the statement that aired on ARY News “He reiterated that the government was merely trying to get Gill into prison so they could torture him.
Fawad continued by saying that the party supported Gill and that PTI leader Imran Khan had brought up the matter during the rally on Saturday in Lahore.
“We are also contacting international organizations to come and examine how political workers are being targeted and tortured,” the statement reads. “We hope that this issue will be rectified quickly.”
In contrast, the Punjab government is moving in a “civilized manner” in the process of investigating the March 25 incident, he pointed out, referring to the violence during the PTI’s ‘Azadi March.
