Court sends Sheikh Rashid on judicial remand

Court denies police request for extension in physical remand

ISLAMABAD:

A local court in Islamabad on Saturday sent Awami Muslim League (AML) chief Sheikh Rashid on judicial remand and denied a police request for an extension in the former interior minister's physical remand.

The court had reserved its decision on the prosecutor's request for extending the AML chief's physical remand. Resuming the hearing, Judicial Magistrate Omar Shabbir ordered police to transfer the veteran politician to Rawalpindi's Adiala Jail

During the hearing earlier today, the former minister alleged that the "police had tied his hands and feet" and asked the court to provide him with Rangers’ security. Criticizing the police's treatment, Rashid said it is better to give him a “death sentence”.

ایف ایٹ کچہری پہنچ گیا ہوں۔ اگر مجھے کچھ ہوا تو آصف زرداری بلاول شہباز محسن نقوی اور رانا ثناءاللہ ذمہ دار ہوں گے#ReleaseSheikhRasheed pic.twitter.com/RJsfnal8De

— Sheikh Rashid Ahmed (@ShkhRasheed) February 4, 2023

The investigation officer informed the court that tests of the AML chief have been conducted. However, the photogrammetric test is yet to be done.

Read Court sends Sheikh Rashid on two-day physical remand

The former interior minister's lawyer Sardar Abdul Razzaq then gave arguments in the court and said that the provisions imposed do not apply to his client.

He furthered that Rashid was “tortured at night”, adding that the police were given a two-day physical remand for investigation, but they “tortured” the former minister.

Opposing the police’s request for an extension in physical remand, the lawyer stated that a two-day remand was given for investigation in the same case.

Razzaq further argued that the case is “made on political basis”, adding that an extension in physical remand is being sought to “make Rashid a target of political revenge”.

The lawyer then pleaded to discharge Rashid from the case.

Read Police summon Rashid over assassination allegations against Zardari

The former minister’s second lawyer, Intezar Panjoota, then made arguments and said that since the case is ongoing in the high court, an extension in physical remand cannot be given.

Opposing all three provisions imposed in the case against the AML chief, Panjoota argued that giving additional “physical remand of Sheikh Rashid will be illegal”.

“The prosecution should be asked about the progress in the investigation during the two-day physical remand,” demanded Panjoota.

The court then reserved judgement on the case and will announce it shortly.

The former interior minister was earlier arrested by the Islamabad police in a late-night raid on his residence in a private housing society for publically accusing former president Asif Ali Zardari of hatching a plot to assassinate PTI Chairman Imran Khan.

On Thursday, an Islamabad court remanded him to two-day police custody following his late-night arrest.