Islamabad police recover pistol, satellite phone during raid at Gill’s apartment

Incarcerated PTI leader was also brought along handcuffed during the raid at Parliament Lodges

ISLAMABAD:

The Islamabad police conducted a raid on incarcerated PTI leader Shahbaz Gill’s apartment at Parliament Lodges in the federal capital and recovered pistol, satellite phone, passport and other devices from his residence.

The police searched the apartment in presence of media and Gill was also brought along handcuffed during the raid.

Gill first said the weapon belonged to his guard but later he expressed ignorance about the weapon, saying he had never been in this room.

However, the PTI leader left baffled after the police found his wallet from the same room. “The wallet was with me at the time of arrest, the driver should have it. I don't know how it came here,” he remarked.

Also read: Islamabad court grants police two-day custody of Shahbaz Gill

The police searched the room and recovered a phone, two passports, a USB stick and some devices. During the raid, the police officials also found a license for an AK-47 gun on which Gill confirmed that it was his gun’s license but said he did not “use it here but somewhere else”.

When questioned about the pistol, Gill denied that it belonged to him stating that the owner of the weapon was most likely one of his security guards who were using the room in his stead.

For more: https://t.co/34uPLaqNiW#etribune #news #ShahbazGill #parliamentlodges pic.twitter.com/RIbdKIRVdm

— The Express Tribune (@etribune) August 22, 2022

Speaking to the media persons, he also confirmed PTI Chairman Imran Khan’s claims that he was subjected to sexual abuse during physical remand.

Development came after an Islamabad court earlier today granted police custody of Shahbaz Gill until August 24, after hearing the lawyers’ arguments in a plea against the 48-hour physical remand of the PTI leader.

During the hearing, the Gill’s counsel brought up the matter of the recovery of his client’s mobile phone that had been “cited as the reason for further remand” but pointed out that it had already been argued that the device was with Gill’s driver.

“The police have acquired the mobile phone,” he claimed.

#ShahbazGill, chief of staff of @ImranKhanPTI, confirms he was sexually assaulted in police custody. pic.twitter.com/JTs1Ru7Kqz

— Mehreen Zahra-Malik (@mehreenzahra) August 22, 2022

After Gill’s lawyer completed his arguments, special prosecutor Rizwan Abbasi told the court that “the lawyers of the accused cannot be told about the police diaries.”

Also read: Punjab minister digs out ‘evidence of torture’ on Shahbaz Gill

“The law says that only the court can see the diaries. The reason for not showing them the diaries is that they might destroy the evidence if they find out first,” he explained.

“90 per cent of the investigation is yet to be conducted,” he argued, claiming that the mobile phone had still not been recovered.

Gill was arrested on August 9, after registration of a sedition case at the Kohsar police station of the federal capital over his controversial remarks against military. He was produced before the judicial magistrate the next day and on August 12, he was sent to jail on judicial remand.