Sheikh Rashid’s nephew Rashid Shafiq granted one-day physical remand

ATTOCK: Pakistan Tehreek-e- Insaf (PTI) Member National Assembly and former interior minister Sheikh Rashid’s nephew Rashid Shafiq’s one-day physical remand was accepted.

MNA Sheikh Rashid Shafiq was produced before the Duty Magistrate’s Court under tight security. Civil Judge Mushtaq Hussain Janjua granted one-day physical remand to Sheikh Rashid Shafiq.

He was arrested on blasphemy charges for his alleged role in a protest against Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and his cabinet members at the holy mosque of Madinah on Sunday.

Read more: Whatever happened at Masjid e Nabawi was wrong, I condemn it: Sheikh Rashid

The arrest was made by the Faisalabad police at Islamabad International Airport in the early hours of the day. Shafique was returning home after Umrah.

A  case has been registered against 150 people, including former Prime Minister Imran Khan, Fawad Chaudhry, Shahbaz Gill and Sheikh Rashid, in connection with sloganeering against Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and his delegation at Masjid-e-Nabwi in Saudi Arabia.

According to Faisalabad police, the case was registered at Madina Town police station at the request of a citizen named Muhammad Naeem.

Former Deputy Speaker National Assembly Qasim Khan Suri, Member National Assembly Rashid Shafiq and Anil Mussarat are also nominated in the FIR.

Read more: FIR registered against Imran Khan, others in connection with Masjid-e-Nabawi incident

According to the FIR, 150 people led by Sheikh Rashid Shafique were sent to Saudi Arabia to conduct preplanned hooliganism.

The lawsuit alleges that the incident took place under a premeditated conspiracy.

The incident occurred when Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and other members of his delegation arrived at the Prophet’s Mosque in Madina last Thursday, video recordings circulating on social media showed some pilgrims — likely Imran Khan supporters — chanting ‘chor’ (thief) and ‘gaddar’ (traitor).