IHC to hear Gill’s bail petition on Sept 14

IHC CJ Athar Minallah to hear the case; notice issued to the prosecution

ISLAMABAD:

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Saturday fixed for hearing PTI leader Shahbaz Gill’s application for bail in a sedition case for Sept 14.

IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah will take up the case on Wednesday, according to the IHC’s cause list. A notice has been issued to the prosecution for his reply on the petition.

The plea was earlier set for hearing on Friday but the case was dropped from the cause list on Friday due to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s appearance in the high court in the missing persons case.

Gill was arrested on August 9 after he made controversial remarks allegedly about the army during an ARY News bulletin and has been detained since with lower courts denying his bail pleas.

The petition argues that the case registered against Gill was “politically motivated” with “ulterior motives and malafide intentions”.

“For charges under mutiny and sedition, approval and sanction of the federal government is a pre-requisite,” it argued, claiming that neither was granted in this case.

“Without permission and sanction, the very registration of a first information report, followed by arrest, detention and remand under Section 167 CrPC, is a nullity in the eyes of the law.”

Mentioning the alleged torture of Gill, the petition argued that the PTI leader was subjected to “physical abuse, torture and violence” during custody.

It said that Gill was suffering from genuine and serious medical complications and required sophisticated treatment and medical care "which, unfortunately, is not available in prison".

The application also gave a detailed account of his medical condition as stated in the report issued by the Pakistan Institute of Management (Pims), which said he was suffering from asthma.

“Moreover, the jail authorities observed bruises and marks of violence on different parts of his body.”It added that the PTI leader hailed from a “noble family” and was also a “respectable citizen”. The plea said that Gill was incarcerated despite the completion of the probe.

“It is respectfully prayed that the petitioner may graciously be admitted to post-arrest bail, till the final disposal of the case,” it reads.

It is pertinent to note that the PTI has filed a separate petition before the Supreme Court, urging it to declare all the investigations carried out so far null and void and against the law.