pakistan
Islamabad court rejects Sheikh Rashid’s bail plea in Zardari remarks case
A district and sessions court in the federal capital on Thursday rejected the post-arrest bail plea filed by Awami Muslim League (AML) chief Sheikh Rashid Ahmed in a case pertaining to his remarks against former president Asif Ali Zardari.
Additional Sessions Judge Tahir Abbas Sipra announced the verdict reserved earlier in the day after hearing arguments from the petition and complainant in the case. This is the second time that his bail petition has been turned down as the same was earlier rejected on Feb 7.
The Islamabad police had arrested the former interior minister on Feb 2 after a case was registered at the Aabpara police station against him for accusing the PPP co-chairman of hatching a plot to assassinate PTI Chairman Imran Khan. Following his arrest, a court approved his two-day physical remand and later he was sent on the judicial remand for 14 days.
Sheikh Rashid is currently in the custody of the Murree police after a judicial magistrate on Feb 8 approved his one-day transit remand in a case related to interference in state affairs and resisting his arrest.
During Thursday’s hearing, the complainant opposed the bail petition, saying: “Sheikh Rashid, along with Imran Khan, is hatching a conspiracy against Asif Zardari”. He said the AML-chief, who has served at several ministries during his political career, had attempted to develop confrontation between the PPP and the PTI by making provocative statements. “His bail petition should be rejected,” he pleaded the court.
However, the lawyer for Mr Ahmed said his client had been embroiled in a false case, adding that a defamation case could only be registered against the AML chief over his remarks against Zardari.
Sheikh Rashid, during interrogation, said he had just referred to a statement made by Imran Khan against Mr Zardari. The judge asked if the PTI chief had also been made part of the investigation. At this point, the complainant pleaded the court to include Mr Khan in the investigation.
After hearing the arguments, the additional sessions judge reserved a verdict on the post-arrest bail petition and later rejected it.
The Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) Islamabad has discharged 32 individuals arrested in connection with the PTI protests, clearing them of the charges.
The 32 accused were brought before the ATC Islamabad late at night after being sent for an identification parade.
The case was heard by ATC Judge Abulhasnat Zulqarnain, with the accused represented by their lawyer Ansar Kiani.
Although the police had claimed that the arrests were made at the I-9 and Margalla police stations, the accused were brought to the court from Jhelum Jail, which led to the judge expressing displeasure.
During the proceedings, the police argued that the accused were arrested on November 25 and the identification parade had not yet been conducted. The police requested a 30-day physical remand for each of the accused.
However, the defense lawyer opposed the request, stating that there had been no identification parade and the police were seeking remand for recovery purposes.
The lawyer further claimed that the police had picked up laborers from their homes just to meet arrest quotas, involving them in the protest case.
After hearing the arguments, Judge Abulhasnat Zulqarnain ordered the release of the 32 accused by discharging them from the case, removing their handcuffs in the courtroom.
He also warned that if the police re-arrested them, the officers would be handcuffed as well.
An anti-terrorism court in Islamabad on Saturday extended bail of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader and former National Assembly speaker Asad Qaiser in a case pertaining to vandalism in Sangjani public gathering held by his party on Sept 28.
Justice Abual Hasnat Zulqarnain of the ATC conducted hearing of the case against the former NA speaker.
The petitioner’s lawyer requested exemptionof her client from appearance, citing terminal illness.
The lawyer also attached medical certificate of the former NA speaker.
Later, the court accepted the plea of Qaiser by extending his bail till Jan 7.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Information Adviser Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif claimed on Saturday that “secret meetings” were being held in the President House to oust Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and bring Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari as the new PM.
In a statement, the adviser said both father and son (President Asif Ali Zardari and Bilawal) were making all the necessary efforts for premiership of the latter, adding that the president was on a secret mission to see his son as the PM.
“Zardari should make his son the PM through fair means instead of stealing the mandate given by the people to the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). Both Sharifs and Zardaris are enjoying the power through a stolen mandate,” he added.
He reiterated that Zardari should keep it in mind that the PTI would continue its struggle to restore its mandate.
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