Staff Report
ISLAMABAD: An Islamabad district and sessions court on Monday granted police two-day physical remand of embattled PTI leader Shahbaz Gill, who has been arrested in connection with a sedition case registered against him.
Earlier in the day, court had directed authorities to present Gill, who had been shifted to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) on Friday.
The court had previously concluded that Gill’s two-day remand in police custody, which was to end on Friday, began late and as such remained incomplete. However, in light of reports on Gill’s health and alleged torture, the court had suspended his handing over to the police.
According to the court order Gill’s “48-hours physical custody subject to pre and post-medical examination” was extended till August 24.
It also directed the investigating officer (IO) to follow the high court’s order and allow Gill to meet his legal counsels. The IO was further ordered to “provide every needful medical facility, as and when required” to the PTI leader.
Meanwhile, in a simultaneous proceeding in the Islamabad High Court (IHC), IHC Acting Chief Justice Aamer Farooq rejected the PTI’s plea against Gill’s physical remand.
On Gill’s torture claims, the court ordered the federal government and interior secretary to appoint an inquiry officer to probe the reports, adding that a retired high court judge should be picked for the job.
The IHC ordered that an officer of SSP rank should monitor Gill’s remand, further adding that the officer should ensure that the PTI leader is subjected to no violence during his remand.
