Shahbaz Gill case: IHC adjourns hearing of plea seeking extension of remand

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has adjourned the hearing of plea against the rejection of another extension in the physical remand of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Shahbaz Gill.

Acting Chief Justice of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) Aamer Farooq heard a petition filed by the government seeking the extension of remand of Shahbaz Gill, who was arrested on sedition charges.

Judicial Magistrate Islamabad had rejected the police request for further remand of Gill.

Advocate General Islamabad Barrister Jahangir Jadoon appeared in the hearingand requested that Shahbaz Gill be remanded further.

He was of the view that Gill made a statement on a private news channel, in which an important institution of the country was targeted. This institution has rendered sacrifices for the country.

Advocate General said that the government took serious notice of Gill’s statement, registered a case and arrested the accused.

The court inquired from the Advocate General Islamabad about the status of the investigation of the accused besides seeking the arguments on why physical remand was necessary.

On the government’s request for further remand, the court said that the physical remand of Shahbaz Gill was granted twice and its period has expired.

On which the Advocate General said that Gill’s laptop and some other devices have not yet been found and must be recovered.

The court adjourned the hearing till August 16 (tomorrow) while issuing a notice on the request for further remand.

Gill’s bail plea

The Islamabad’s Additional and Sessions Court Judge Zeba Chaudhry heard PTI leader Shahbaz Gill’s bail plea.

Faisal Chaudhry, the lawyer of the arrested PTI leader, appeared in the hearing and pleaded that the court should hear the arguments and decide on the petition today.

The court said that a similar case is also pending in the Islamabad High Court (IHC).

Gill’s lawyer was of the view that even though the case is pending in the high court, the sessions court could hear it. The order of the Judicial Magistrate Islamabad has also been challenged in the Islamabad High Court.

The lawyer took the stand that the government is deliberately prolonging the case, as per the law a person cannot be kept in jail even for a minute without reason. Therefore, the bail application of his client Shahbaz Gul should be approved immediately.

Later, the court adjourned the hearing till 2:00 pm today.