Shahbaz Gill to be indicted in sedition case on Feb 27

A district and sessions court in Islamabad on Saturday rejected a plea for acquittal from Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Shahbaz Gill and decided to indict him on February 27 on charges of inciting sedition in institutions, Express News reported.

At the hearing, Gill's counsel argued that the case was illegal because it was registered without the permission of the federal or provincial government and without meeting the legal requirements for registering a First Information Report (FIR). The court responded that the complainant was a magistrate who should be familiar with the law.

Gill's counsel also claimed that evidence in the case had been tampered with, pointing to the fact that a Toshiba USB had been handed over but a HP USB was returned. Despite these arguments, Additional Sessions Judge Tahir Abbas announced the verdict, rejecting Gill's plea for acquittal.

Read more: PTI's Shahbaz Gill brought to court in ambulance

The PTI leader has faced multiple cases since making controversial comments about the military establishment on a private TV channel. In August, he was arrested by the federal government on charges of sedition and inciting the public against state institutions. In December, Gill was hospitalised with shortness of breath and coughing.

The next hearing in the case is scheduled for February 27.