Two-day physical remand of Shahbaz Gill granted to Islamabad Police

ISLAMABAD: A district and sessions court Monday granted a two-day physical remand of PTI Chairman Imran Khan's chief of staff, Shahbaz Gill, to the Islamabad police in a sedition case.

Duty Magistrate Aman Malik directed the police to present Gill on August 24.

Gill was presented in court today after he was discharged from the Pakistan Institute Of Medical Sciences (PIMS) hospital where he was admitted last week.

Gill was taken to the ‘bakshi khana’ back and forth during the hearing as the court took multiple breaks during the hearing.

PTI's lawyer contested that Gill has been in custody for nearly 14 days and it was enough time for investigating a person, however, the prosecution demanded more time.

The police had requested an extension of eight days in Gill's physical remand at the last hearing of the case on Friday — but the court sent him to PIMS in light of his medical condition.

Gill was taken into custody on August 9 from Banigala Chowk over charges of inciting mutiny among the public against the ranks and files of the Pakistan Army by making some remarks during a TV programme.

The PTI contends that its leader was "tortured" while in incarceration and was not medically fit to be sent into physical remand while the police insist on him being given into its custody for further investigation.

Today's hearing

During the hearing, the judge asked about his medical report and remarked the decision to grant an extension in remand will be taken after reviewing the report.

At this, the court was informed that the case record was with the Islamabad High Court in a similar matter which has reserved the verdict and expected to announce it by 2pm.

The judge asked the lawyer, “what do you think the hearing should be adjourned until the file is received,” to which he requested the court to wail till 2pm.

Later, the judge adjourned the hearing briefly.

Before the break, Gill told the court: "I was fed forcefully; 10-12 people shaved me; they lied to me about my bail." 

Once the hearing resumed again, PTI lawyer Babar Awan told the court that Gill was in for 14 days and that it was enough time for the police to investigate him.

However, the prosecution disagreed and demanded that more time was needed for the probe. The prosecutor requested the court to extend the remand.