Shahbaz Gill physical remand: IHC orders sessions court to hear review petition
IHC reserved its verdict regarding the admissibility of the government's request for the physical remand of Dr Shahbaz Gill in sedition case.
ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has reserved its verdict regarding the admissibility of the government’s request for the physical remand of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader and Imran Khan’s Chief of Staff Dr Shahbaz Gill in the sedition case.
Acting Chief Justice of the IHC Justice Aamer Farooq is hearing the case of Dr Shahbaz Gill’s plea for acquittal in the sedition case and the government’s plea for further physical remand of the PTI leader, arrested on charges of inciting sedition.
Gill has approached the high court to dismiss the sedition case against him, whereas, the prosecution challenged the magistrate’s decision not to grant physical remand.
During the hearing, Justice Farooq stopped the lawyers from discussing political affairs in the courtroom and remarked that it is true that the accused is a prominent figure of a political party, but the court has to look at the legal point only.
He said that whoever the accused is, it is meaningless before this court and the proceedings will be carried out in accordance with the law He sought arguments over the admissibility of the plea against the decision of the judicial magistrate for not granting Gill’s physical remand.
Shahbaz Gill case: IHC adjourns hearing of plea seeking extension of remand
The IHC acting CJ remarked that the accused should be sent to jail on judicial remand, then the matter is over, handing over an accused to the police on physical remand is a serious matter. He remarked that the sessions court was also hearing the case and its verdict should be sought regarding the legality of the judicial magistrate’s decision.
Justice Aamer Farooq remarked that he is not going to the merits of the remand request, he will first hear the arguments on the admissibility of the plea.
He said that it is not the jurisdiction of the high court to see how much the accused should be remanded, no matter how serious the crime, the matter of remand has to be seen by the magistrate.
Later, the court reserved the verdict on the admissibility of the government’s plea.
Moreover, the IHC also heard Gill’s plea for his acquittal in the case. On behalf of the petitioner, Shoaib Shaheen Advocate argued that Shahbaz Gill’s statement was taken out of context.
The IHC directed the additional sessions judge to club the petitions of Gill’s bail and physical remand’s plea.
