ISLAMABAD: Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Friday reserved verdict on a petition seeking to form an independent medical board to examine PTI leader Shahbaz Gill.

The court heard the admissibility of a petition requesting the court to form a medical board consisting of impartial doctors to probe torture and medical examination of Shahbaz Gill who is currently in police custody.

IHC judge Justice Mian Gul Hasan Aurangzeb reserved the decision on the admissibility of the application after the arguments were completed. Senior lawyer Babar Awan appeared in court over the petition filed by PTI Secretary General Asad Umar.

The presiding judge asked if there was a medical board that had issued Gill’s medical reports. He said the Acting Chief Justice had issued a notice to IG Islamabad on the matter and now a petition has been filed to form a separate medical board.

Babar Awan said they want an independent medical board to conduct the examination. He said doctors on the medical board do not have expertise in some diseases. He said a private medical board should be formed with doctors from all four provinces. The judge said the matter should be decided by the Home Secretary.

Babar Awan said they want a medical board consisting of neutral private doctors, not government employees. He said the court should take steps to ensure the protection of fundamental rights and life of Shahbaz Gill. He said there were signs of torture when Shahbaz Gill was produced before the magistrate after arrest.

He said an appeal was filed by the federal government to review the decision of the judicial magistrate granting judicial remand which was rejected. He said the federal government approached the Islamabad High Court which ordered to hear the appeal and Gill was again remanded in police custody.

The judge asked how the present medical board was formed. Babar Awan replied that a lower court judge ordered to form the medical board. The judge said that even in a case of treason, torture or beating on specific parts of the body is not allowed.

Babar Awan said a university professor is being tortured to admit that he committed a crime at someone’s behest. He said constitutional and fundamental rights are being violated. The judge said he will pass an order in this regard. The court eventually reserved verdict on the petition.

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