Court rejects police request for extension of Gill's physical remand

ISLAMABAD:

A local court in Islamabad on Wednesday rejected the request by the Islamabad police for an extension in Shahbaz Gill's physical remand and sent the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader to prison on judicial remand.

Judicial Magistrate Malik Aman rejected the seven-day extension request by the police as the physical remand of Imran Khan's chief of staff expired today.

Gill’s counsel, Faisal Chaudhry, informed the court that he planned to get a power of attorney signed today, to which the judge informed him that it had already been signed earlier.

The judge inquired about Gill’s presence in the court at the beginning of the hearing, to which Chaudhry informed that his client has not reached the premises yet, and asked whether he should proceed with his arguments.

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

The judge then asked for the case file, saying that comments in the document by the investigation officer need to be reviewed before the arguments begin. 

Following Gill's arrival, Special Prosecutor Raja Rizwan Abbasi presented his arguments for an extension in the physical remand period of the accused.

He noted that the police needed Gill in custody to conduct a polygraph test after a separate case was registered against him for possession of unlicensed firearms.

Moreover, he argued that Gill’s Parliament Lodges’ room was searched during his two-day physical remand during which phones and four USBs were recovered and the police need to question the accused regarding the confiscated items.

He added that the primary cell phone that Gill used has yet to be recovered and the polygraph test needs to be conducted in Lahore.

The judge asked if a request for a polygraph test was not already made during Gill's previous remand hearing. The special prosecutor replied that it was not requested during the last hearing, but in the hearing prior which was suspended.

Also Read: 'Force-feeding': Videos of Gill eating 'under protest' go viral

The judge noted that a polygraph test was to be conducted in Islamabad on August 22 as per court orders.

Prosecutor Abbasi accepted that it could be carried out in the federal capital. He added that while the police have made progress in the probe, the entire investigation is not yet complete as certain aspects are still to be covered and Gill needs to be interrogated as well.

He further argued that the investigation's progress was 'in front of everyone' and a separate case was also filed against Gill during this period.

Gill's counsel noted that the prosecution failed to challenge the additional sessions judge’s order as they sought eight days of remand and only two were granted.

He further attacked the prosecution’s reasoning behind an extension, saying: “Which phones do they want? Four phones have already been seized.”

“It has been 16 days today, the police have done nothing but torture Shahbaz Gill,” he added.

The judge stated that 48 hours were granted for physical remand and the court can not approve a further extension.

In response, the prosecutor began reading the order of Additional Sessions Judge Zeba Chaudhry. Magistrate Aman said the earlier judge did not mention that the magistrate will give further remand.

The request for an extension of the remand was rejected by the court as he maintained that the order passed by the additional sessions judge was final.

'Case based on nothing but lies'

After the hearing, Gill’s lawyer Chaudhry spoke to the media and said a bail application will be filed immediately for the PTI leader’s release, adding that the entire case against him was based on 'nothing but lies'.

Chaudhry added that ‘custodial torture’ needs to be discouraged by all and everyone needs to stand up against it.

He also brought up the custodial torture bill, that has been pending with a standing committee, saying the government needs to approve it.

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.