Gill moves court for bail in sedition case

PTI leader says case against him in 'bad faith' and 'political malice'

ISLAMABAD:

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Shahbaz Gill on Thursday has filed a bail application at a local sessions court after he was charged with inciting rebellion against institutions.

According to Express News, Gill filed the plea through his legal team and within it stated that the case against him was created on the basis of “bad faith and political malice”.

Gill contended that parts of his statement – which he was incarcerated for – were distorted and included in the first informant report (FIR) of the case. The application stated that Gill could not be prosecuted under the provisions mentioned in the FIR.

The PTI leader requested that the court grant him bail.

Earlier, the jail medical officer conducted a preliminary medical examination of Gill as per the jail manual, after he was shifted to the jail on judicial remand. According to sources, his pulse, sugar, blood pressure and other things were checked, and minor fluctuations were found.

Gill told the medical officer that he was taking medication for all of them. Sources further claimed that Gill had a history of breathing problems, infection and cough.

After the medical examination, he was given a B class and transferred to his prison cell.

Physical remand request rejected

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 PTI leader to prison on judicial remand.

Read Cannot ignore allegations of torture on Shahbaz Gill: IHC

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 on August 24.

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

'Case based on nothing but lies'

After Wednesday’s 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, which 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 the military. He was produced before the judicial magistrate the next day and on August 12, he was sent to jail on judicial remand.