Former interior minister and Awami Muslim League chief Sheik Rashid failed to appear before the Aabpra police after he was summoned after he claimed that former president and Pakistan People’s Party Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari has hatched a plot to eliminate former prime minister and Pakistan Tehreeke-e-Insaf chief Imran Khan.
After PPP Rawalpindi Division Vice-President Inayat-ur-Rehman filed an application with the Aabpara police, seeking a case against Rashid over what he said his “baseless” claims, the police had served a notice on him to appear with solid evidence so that necessary measures could be taken in this regard.
The PPP local leader said in the plea that Sheikh Rashid in an interview with a private TV channel claimed that he had the information regarding a conspiracy hatched by Zardari to kill Imran Khan. The plea said that Sheikh Rashid also levelled allegations that terrorists have been tasked to eliminate Imran Khan.
The applicant said that Sheikh Rashid through his statement has attempted to create a rift between the PPP and PTI and things could flare up. The applicant has sought legal action against Sheikh Rashid.
Sources said that the Aabpara police had summoned Sheikh Rashid at 5 pm on Monday with an instruction to provide evidence to substantiate the allegations he had levelled against Zardari so that action could be taken. However, Sheikh Rashid did not appear before the police. Sources said that the capital police have decided to give another chance to Sheikh Rashid to present evidence.
The sources said that if he fails to appear and produce evidence, a case would be registered against him on the plea of the PPP leader.
A senior police officer told The Express Tribune that if Sheikh Rashid fails to provide the evidence, a case would be registered against him under Section 505 for deliberately spreading false rumours, instigating people against a person with an intention to harm (someone), and damaging one's reputation.
He said that conviction under section 505 is seven years and it is a non-bailable offence.
The police officer said Sheikh Rashid has been given another opportunity to provide evidence to substantiate the allegations he has levelled against Zardari, and if he failed to present evidence, then a case will be registered against him.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 31st, 2023.
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