Islamabad court rejects Sheikh Rashid's bail application

ISLAMABAD: A district and sessions court in Islamabad rejected the bail application of former federal minister Sheikh Rashid on Thursday.

The Awami Muslim League (AML) chief — who is an ally of former premier Imran Khan — is facing charges of levelling murder plot allegations against Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari, threatening police personnel, and passing "offensive" and "filthy" comments against Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari in multiple cities.

Additional sessions judge Tahir Mehmood Sipra heard the post-arrest plea of Rashid who is currently in Murree police's custody on a transitory remand that expires today.

Rashid's lawyers had filed a new plea seeking the former minister's bail in the sessions court, following the rejection by a judicial magistrate. However, the sessions court judge, Tahir Mehmood, forwarded the plea to an additional sessions court.

The plea stated that Rashid had been targeted for political vengeance and the police were misused against him. More investigation is not needed as he was on judicial remand in Adiala Jail, it added.

It should be noted that the plea was filed before the trial court handed over Rashid to police on a transitory remand for his transfer to Murree to be presented before a court there.

During Thursday's hearing, the AML chief's lawyers Sardar Abdul Raziq and Intizar Panjhuta and prosecutor Adnan appeared before the court.

Lawyer Raziq, giving his arguments, and said that provisions imposed in a case the AML chief can be imposed by the federal or provincial government, not citizens.

He said that Rashid had referred to comments made by former prime minister Imran Khan against Zardari, requesting the court to approve the AML chief's bail application.

Murree police seek three-day physical remand of Rashid

Meanwhile, Rashid was presented before civil judge Muhammad Zeeshan's court in Murree, while the police sought a three-day physical remand of the former minister.

However, the court rejected the police's plea and ordered to send Rashid to jail on judicial remand.

On Wednesday, a local court in Islamabad had sent the AML chief Rashid Ahmed into police custody on transitory remand in the case registered against him in Murree for threatening police.