Legal battles for Rashid far from over

Details of at least ten cases filed against former interior minister Sheikh Rashid have been presented before the Lahore High Court’s Rawalpindi Bench, adding to the legal challenges facing the ex-security czar. A list of charges encompassing ten cases related to incidents such as the GHQ attack, the Army Museum attack, the burning of a metro bus station in Rawalpindi and an attack on the office of a sensitive institution.

Unsurprisingly, the cases registered in various police stations involve criminal charges of terrorism, attacks on sensitive installations, and conspiracy. Moreover, the Punjab government and Punjab IG have been given one week to provide details of all cases filed against Sheikh Rashid in various police stations across other districts in Punjab. The LHC Rawalpindi Bench, presided over by Justice Chaudhary Abdul Aziz, adjourned the hearing until the next Friday, December 15.

Read Court seeks details of cases against Rashid across Punjab

Upon receiving the report of the ten cases from the Punjab government, the court clarified that it would not intervene in the ongoing investigations.

The court adjourned further proceedings for a week. After the hearing, Sheikh Rashid emphasised the importance of respecting institutions for everyone. He said he would contest the election on the symbol of pen and ink from two constituencies. With additional input from DNA

Published in The Express Tribune, December 9^th, 2023.