DM Monitoring
ISLAMABAD: An Islamabad District and Sessions Court on Monday granted the police a three-day remand of defence analyst and retired Lieutenant General Amjad Shoaib, following his arrest after a magistrate registered a case against him on charges of inciting the public against state institutions.
The first information report (FIR) was lodged at the Ramna police station by Magistrate Owais Khan on Sunday. It in-vokes section 153A (promoting enmity between different groups, etc) and 505 (statements conducing to public mis-chief) of the Pakistan Penal Code.
The complaint said that the retired general — in an interview on BOL TV show ‘Imran Khan Bol Kay Saath’ aired on Sat-urday (Feb 25) — passed statements that “incited the government officials and opposition from performing their gov-ernment and legal duties”.
Following his arrest, the retired lieutenant general was presented in the court of Judicial Magistrate Abbas Shah where Ramna police station’s investigation officer (IO) and Prosecutor Adnan were also present.
The legal team representing the retired general — comprising Advocate Mudassir Khalid Abbasi, Islamabad Bar Associ-ation President Advocate Qaiser Imam and Advocate Riyasat Ali Azad — were also in attendance.
Against the prosecution’s request for a seven-day physical remand, the court granted the police a three-day physical remand of Lt-Gen (R) Shoaib and issued directives for him to be produced before the court on March 2.
At the outset of the hearing, the IO requested a seven-day physical remand of Lt-Gen (R) Shoaib. The prosecutor then read out the text of the complaint filed against the retired general.
“Lt-Gen (R) Shoaib was present as a guest on a private television [channel]. Hatred was spread against the govern-ment through his statement. Through his statement, it was attempted to cause hatred between the government, op-position and government officials,” he read the complaint.
The prosecutor further said, “The relations between the opposition and the government are not well; they were incit-ed through the statement.
“The opposition is being incited to employ a stricter strategy against the government. Through Lt-Gen (R) Shoaib’s statement, hatred is being spread between three factions,” he added.
“As per the sections imposed on Lt-Gen (R) Shoaib, a sentence of five years can be given,” prosecutor Adnan said.
He said a photogrammetric and a voice matching were required to be conducted of the retired general, adding that the photogrammetric test will be done in Lahore.
