Imran ‘faking’ Gill’s torture to deceive people: Sanaullah

Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah lambasted the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Sunday for creating a “fake story” of the alleged torture on party leader Dr Shahbaz Gill in order to divert the public attention from the sedition case against him.

Addressing a press conference in Islamabad the minister refuted the claims made by PTI Chairman Imran Khan about the torture on Gill, saying that the accusations were “lies” created to divert the attention of the public from the controversial statements made by Imran’s chief of staff.

Rana stressed that the coalition government did not believe on any kind of torture. “The PTI, at the behest of Imran Niazi, launched condemnable campaign over the Lasbela incident by levelling heinous allegations on the families and martyrs of the Pakistan Army,” he said.

Read: Gill subjected to ‘sexual abuse’, claims Imran

“In continuation, Dr Shahbaz Gill appeared on a television on August 8, with a fixed plan and aired comments against the Pakistan Army on Imran Khan’s agenda. “Gill had everything planned with the private television channel, from when they will call him, to how long the conversation will run.”

He said that politicians at many times had talked about the intervention of the establishment in the politics but not a single person had ever stated that army officers should not obey the orders of the high command. He added that no state or institution could ever allow anyone to spread such kind of allegations.

The minister pointed out that the PTI leader himself hadn’t filed any complaints pertaining to the torture in custody, terming the entire “episode as a drama” that was only being played on the media and had no legal basis. “Gill is being given a just treatment in custody,” he said.

Read: Imran accused of ‘inciting people’ against state institutions

“The PML-N leadership believes that any kind of abuse, is a clear-cut violation of Pakistan’s Constitution and we strongly oppose all forms of violence, as even our entire leadership was subjected to mental and physical anguish at the hands of Imran Khan during his tenure,” he said.

Gill, Imran’s chief of staff, was arrested on August 9, following registration of a first information report (FIR) at the Kohsar police station of the federal capital for instigating army officers not to obey the orders of the high command.

Gill, accused of sedition, was produced before the judicial magistrate within 24 hours of his arrest. On August 11, a medical board examined the health of Gill and declared him fit and on August 12, he was sent to jail on judicial remand.

Gill did not lodge any complaint of torture before the medical board. He also remained in Adiyala Jail from August 12 to 17 and never stated that he was tortured, the minister said. “I can confirm as the interior minister that no torture was carried out against Gill during the police custody,” he added.

He also mentioned the PTI chief's speech during a rally on Saturday night in which he attacked Islamabad’s Inspector General (IG) Dr Akbar Nasir Khan, the deputy inspector general (DIG) and Additional District and Sessions Judge Zeba Chaudhry, who remanded Gill to police custody.

“A case should be registered against him [Imran Khan] for inciting the public against state officials who are only fulfilling their duties, per the law,” the minister, who is also a senior leader of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) told reporters.

(WITH INPUT FROM APP)