A district and sessions court in Islamabad granted a two-day physical remand of senior PTI leader Shahbaz Gill in a sedition case filed against him, after reviewing his medical report.
According to the details, Shahbaz Gill was presented before the court after he was discharged from the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) today.
During the hearing, a report prepared by the Adiala prison’s officials was presented before the court, confirming torture marks on Gill’s body when he was handed over to them by Islamabad police, the media reported.
Read more: Physical remand of Shahbaz Gill suspended
PTI’s lawyer also 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 PTI contends that its leader was “tortured” while in police custody and was not medically fit to be sent into physical remand. On the other hand, the police insist on him being given into its custody for further investigation.
Physical remand of Shahbaz Gill granted to Islamabad Police by the court for 48 hours.
— Wajahat Kazmi (@KazmiWajahat) August 22, 2022
The police had earlier requested an extension in Shahbaz Gill’s physical remand. During the last hearing on Friday, the court inquired why the police were requesting another eight days of Gill’s custody when a two-day remand had already been granted.
The court also sent Shahbaz Gill to PIMS in light of his medical condition. However, after today’s hearing, the court granted another two-day physical remand of the PTI leader. The court directed the police to present Gill before the court on August 24.
Dr. Shahbaz Gill: Two Days additional physical remand by Islamabad Court was unnecessary at this stage & represents more of an "Ego Battle" instead of investigation requirement! All what he said is on record & can be examined; this sordid episode is only hurting Pakistsn's image
— Moeed Pirzada (@MoeedNj) August 22, 2022
Shahbaz Gill’s torture case
Shahbaz Gill was arrested on August 9 at Bani Gala Chowk by the Islamabad police. He was charged with sedition and inciting mutiny against the armed forces following his controversial remarks during an interview on ARY News.
Pertinent to mention that Shahbaz Gill’s health and claims of torture have caused quite the controversy. Earlier, a medical board comprising of specialized physicians declared Shahbaz Gill ‘fit’. Prior to this, it was learned that the medical board decided to not discharge Shahbaz Gill from the hospital since he was suffering from “phobia, anxiety, and asthma”.
Read more: PTI shares evidence of Shahbaz Gill’s torture with int’l human rights bodies
On the other hand, the police of the federal capital termed Gill’s illness “an excuse”, saying that the medical board had declared him “completely fit”.
“The accused is pretending to be sick and wants to hinder the investigations through this excuse but this cannot come in the way of law,” the Islamabad Capital Territory Police said in a statement issued on Twitter.