Gill seeks quashment of sedition case

ISLAMABAD:

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday issued notices to respondents in a case filed by advocate general Islamabad, seeking further physical remand of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Shahbaz Gill in a case of inciting rebellion in institutions.

The hearing came as Gill, who is the chief of staff of PTI Chairman Imran Khan, moved the IHC for the quashment of the sedition case against him, claiming that the police had arrested him just to please the current government.

Acting IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq heard the appeal against the decision of judicial magistrate who last week rejected the prosecution’s request for further physical remand of Gill. At the outset of the hearing, the judge sought arguments on the maintainability of the review petition.

Islamabad Advocate General Jahangir Jadoon, Special Prosecutor Chaudhry Haseeb Muhammad and Rizwan Abbasi Advocate appeared before the court. The advocate general said that Gill had given a controversial statement on a TV channel with regard to state institutions.

He said that Gill targeted sensitive state institutions, which had given numerous sacrifices for the country, adding that the government took serious notice of his statement and a case was registered against Gill. The court then asked the prosecution why it required more physical remand.

The advocate general replied that the case was about the decisions of lower court. He contended that the laptop and other devices were yet to be recovered from the accused due to which the prosecution required his further physical remand. The court adjourned the case till Tuesday (today).

Read Court issues notices to IO, prosecutor in Gill's post-arrest bail plea

Gill was arrested last week for his controversial media interview. A lower court had dismissed the request of the prosecution for further physical remand of Gill and sent him to jail on judicial remand. Currently, Gill is lodged in Adiala Jail.

Meanwhile, Gill's legal team also approached the IHC for the quashment of the first information report (FIR) against him. It prayed the court to quash the FIR registered against Gill as it didn't meet the merits.

The petition stated the FIR registered against Gill was malicious, as the police filed the case just to show loyalty to the current government and to satisfy its political agenda. There is no option but to knock at the door of the high court to seek refuge from oppression, the petitioner said.

The Registrar's Office has fixed the petition for hearing on Tuesday (today). Acting Chief Justice Aamir Farooq will hear the petition.

Meanwhile, PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry said that what was happening to Gill was “the height of injustice” and the "entire party stands with him”.

Talking to the media at F-8 kutcheri, the PTI leader said, “They only want this remand to torture [Gill].

He added that the government "is trying to run in the case and the government’s lawyers are not prepared to give arguments”.

“This matter should reach its resolution at the earliest."

Fawad said Gill was being targeted as he was "weak".

(WITH INPUT FROM APP)