‘Shame on us’: PPP senator lashes out at govt for ‘physical torture’ on PTI’s Gill

PPP Senator Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar, whose party is part of the ruling alliance, has lashed out at Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif-led government for the “physical torture” of PTI leader Shahbaz Gill in police custody.

“Have seen very disturbing pictures of physical torture on Shahbaz Gill. No matter how much you disagree with or dislike him, a man’s dignity should not have been violated like this,” the senator wrote on his official Twitter handle on Thursday.

“Either the govt of [Prime Minister] Mian Shahbaz is complicit or spineless to prevent such atrocity! Shame on us,” he added.

He also blamed the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM), an alliance of the political parties that are part of the coalition government, saying “serving democracy by torturing political opponents. What a farce!”.

Gill, who was arrested by the Islamabad police in a sedition case last week, had been handed over to the police late on Wednesday after a five-hour high drama at the Adiala jail, following an order of the sessions court of the federal capital.

Today, Acting Chief Justice IHC Amir Farooq heard a petition filed against the two additional days’ physical remand that had been granted by the lower court yesterday.

Also read: ‘Banana republic’: Imran slams treatment meted out to Gill in police custody

Gill’s lawyers Faisal Chaudhry and Shoaib Shaheen claimed in the court that their client is being tortured during his physical remand.

The IHC summoned IG Islamabad, SSP Investigation and SHO Kohsar as well as the superintendent Adiala and the relevant medical officer along with Gill’s medical records. Notices were also issued to the advocate general and additional attorney general for 3pm today.

Furthermore, PTI leaders Asad Umar and Babar Awan filed a petition in the IHC against Gill’s torture requesting the formation of “a medical board consisting of impartial doctors for Gill’s medical examination”.

Citing media reports of the PTI leader’s ‘physical abuse’ in police custody, the PTI leaders requested that the police be “prevented from taking a confession through pressurising” him.