Islamabad court resumes hearing of Shahbaz Gill’s bail plea

Police officers escort the leader of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) Doctor Shahbaz Gill after a hearing at district court, in Federal Capital. — file 

ISLAMABAD: A district and sessions court in Islamabad resumed on Monday (today) hearing of a petition seeking interim bail of PTI’s incarcerated leader Shahbaz Gill in a sedition case filed against him.
On August 9, Gill was arrested from Banigala Chowk in the capital a day after making controversial remarks on a private TV channel. He was subsequently booked on charges of sedition and inciting members of state institutions against the Pakistan Army. Additional District and Sessions Judge Zafar Iqbal is hearing the sedition case. Shahbaz Gill’s lawyers are giving their arguments in the courtroom.

Court gave police last chance to submit records

In the last hearing, the Islamabad court gave the capital's police the last chance to submit records pertaining to the sedition case against the PTI leader by Monday with his lawyers terming the delay "unfortunate". The police, during that day's hearing, told the court that the investigation officer — who is in Karachi and has the records — could not be reached and his phone has also been switched off.
Special prosecutor Rizwan Abbas told the court that he wanted to see the records first before he could present his arguments. At this, Gill's lawyers said that it was "extremely unfortunate" that the police were delaying the matter. In response, Additional District and Sessions Judge Tahir Mahmood Supra said that he was giving one "last chance" to the police to present the records by Monday. The hearing of the case was then adjourned till Monday (today).

Multiple charges 

Gill is facing serious charges after he allegedly incited mutiny within the military while speaking on a private TV channel earlier this month.
He was already facing sedition charges, but the Islamabad police had also registered a case against the PTI leader over possession of an illegal weapon. He was booked in the case after police raided the incarcerated PTI leader's room in Parliament Lodges last week — where they recovered weapons, a satellite phone, and foreign currency. The PTI, since Gill's arrest, has been repeatedly alleging that he has been tortured, humiliated, and sexually assaulted in police custody, however, the police and government deny all claims. During the raid at his Parliament Lodge's residence also, Gill told journalists that he had been "sexually assaulted".

The Human Rights Watch (HRW) has demanded an immediate, independent, and transparent investigation into the alleged torture of Gill in police custody.

Currently, the PTI leader is on judicial remand in the two cases which will end on September 7. More to follow... 

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Police raid Shahbaz Gill’s room in Parliament Lodges

ISLAMABAD: Islamabad Police  has raided incarcerated PTI leader Shahbaz Gill's room in the Parliament Lodges late Monday.
During the raid, police personnel recovered weapons, satellite phone, and foreign currency, Geo News reported. According to details, the raid was carried out under the supervision of a senior superintendent of police (SSP) and Gill accompanied them there with police officials in handcuffs. A pistol was recovered during the operation; however, Gill refused to take ownership of the weapon. Apart from weapons, a mobile phone, satellite phone and USBs have also been recovered from the room. Moreover, his wallet, that was missing, has also been recovered in which two of his CNICs were also found. Along with all these two passports were also recovered. Gill told journalists that he had no clue as to why is wallet was found in the room, claiming that he had left it in the car when he was taken into custody. “My wallet was usually carried by my driver and the room from where the pistol has been recovered was in use of my guards,” he said. Replying to the questions of the journalists, Gill confirmed PTI chief Imran Khan's claims regarding being sexually assaulted in police custody. "Yes, I was sexually abused," said Gill in response to the question. Police then whisked Gill to the Punjab House. They also searched the room used by Shahbaz Gill there. But, they found none of his belongings there, said police sources. Police said Gill's belongings had already been shifted to the Parliament lodges. Police also said a case of the pistol recovered from Gill's Parliament Lodges room is being registered at the Secretariat police station. A red-coloured diary was also found in Shahbaz Gill's room. When the SSP asked him about it, Gill said he didn't know it. "It's not mine," said Gill. The police official also asked Gill about the names of people who lived in the room. Izhar and Jabir lived here, he answered. Sources said Gill's Parliament lodges room is allotted to Senator Abdul Qadir. 

Source https://www.globalcourant.com/police-raid-shahbaz-gills-room-in-parliament-lodges/?feed_id=14404&_unique_id=6303f092ae07d

IHC issues notice on govt’s plea against dismissal of Shahbaz Gill's physical remand

PTI leader Shahbaz Gill in court during a hearing of a sedition case filed against him. Screengrab

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday issued a notice to PTI leader Shahbaz Gill on a petition filed by the federal government against a local court’s ruling that turned down the plea seeking an extension in his physical remand in a sedition case filed against him.

On August 13, Islamabad Advocate General Jahangir Jadoon moved the IHC seeking its order to declare the decision taken by the district and sessions court null and void while extending the physical remand of Imran Khan's chief of staff.

IHC acting Chief Justice Amir Farooq took up the petition today.

During the course of the proceedings, the petitioner accused the PTI leader of targeting a state institution that had rendered great sacrifices for the country.

At this, the court asked why do you want an extension in the physical remand of Shahbaz Gill?

What will you do if the remand is extended? the court inquired.

“It is a fact that your review petition has been dismissed and the physical remand [of Shahbaz Gill] is over,” observed the court.

The petition apprised the court that the police needed an extension in Gill's remand as they have to recover the suspect’s laptop and other devices to take the investigations to its logical end.

Meanwhile, the court served notice on Gill in this regard and adjourned the hearing till tomorrow (August 16). 

The case 

A treason case was registered against Shahbaz Gill at the Kohsar Police Station under several sections of the Pakistan Penal Code, including 124-A (sedition), 131 (abetting mutiny, or attempting to seduce a soldier, sailor or airman from his duty), 153 (wantonly giving provocation with intent to cause riot if rioting be committed; if not committed), 153-A (promoting enmity between different groups, etc), and 505 (statements conducing to public mischief), 506 (punishment for criminal intimidation), among others.

On August 9, Gill was arrested from Banigala Chowk in the capital a day after making controversial remarks on a private TV. He was subsequently booked on charges of sedition and inciting the members of the state institutions against their leadership.

The court granted a two-day physical remand and directed them to present him on August 12.  However, the police sought an extension in Gill's remand for another 12 days on Friday but the court dismissed the plea.

Source https://www.globalcourant.com/ihc-issues-notice-on-govts-plea-against-dismissal-of-shahbaz-gills-physical-remand/?feed_id=11084&_unique_id=62f9fa7d17bca

Shahbaz Gill produced before court after completion of two-day remand

Imran Khan's aide Shahbaz Gill in an Islamabad court. -Screengrab

ISLAMABAD: PTI leader Shahbaz Gill has been produced before an Islamabad court today after the completion of two-day physical remand granted in a sedition case filed against him.

More to follow...

Source https://www.globalcourant.com/shahbaz-gill-produced-before-court-after-completion-of-two-day-remand/?feed_id=9782&_unique_id=62f5d57d8cea1

PM Shahbaz visits Lieutenant Colonel Laiq Baig Shaheed's family

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif offering Fatiha for Colonel Laiq Baig Mirza Shaheed. — APP

QUETTA: Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif on Monday visited the residence of Lieutenant Colonel Laiq Baig Mirza, a high-ranking official of the Pakistan Army who embraced martyrdom last month.

During his visit, PM Shahbaz met with the martyr’s family and paid tribute to his service to the nation.

“No nation can ever be grateful enough to its martyrs for their supreme sacrifice of life,” tweeted the premier.

In his tweet, PM Shahbaz further wrote that the sacrifices of true patriots like him ensure that anti-Pakistan forces will never succeed.

Lieutenant Colonel Mirza was martyred after terrorists abducted and shot him dead last month, a statement by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said.

According to the military's media wing, on the night of July 12/13 a group of 10-12 terrorists abducted Lt Col Laiq Shaheed, who was serving in DHA Quetta, along with his cousin Umer Javed near Warchoom, Ziarat, as they were returning to Quetta after visiting Quaid-e-Azam's residency.

Source https://www.globalcourant.com/pm-shahbaz-visits-lieutenant-colonel-laiq-baig-shaheeds-family/?feed_id=5300&_unique_id=62e83b3b3f53f