Court suspends Shahbaz Gill’s remand, orders medical check-up

ISLAMABAD: A court dismissed a plea seeking further eight-day physical remand of PTI leader Shahbaz Gill in a case related to making controversial statements against the armed forces.

Judicial Magistrate Farrukh Ali Khan rejected the police plea seeking further eight-day physical remand. The court ordered to keep Shahbaz Gill at PIMS hospital till Monday. The court ruled the two-day physical remand has not even started. It also ordered another medical examination of the Shahbaz Gill.

The judge said Shahbaz Gill is suffering from breathing difficulties and was not in good health or else he would not be presented in court in an ambulance. The court dismissed the matter of physical remand till Monday.

Shahbaz Gill was presented before a district and sessions court on Friday morning amid tight security Police have sought further eight-day remand of the PTI leader. Gill’s layer Faisal Chaudhry appeared before the court.

There was a brief clash between lawyers and police after Shahbaz Gill was brought to court. Police insisted on taking Shahbaz Gill without his oxygen mask. SSP Investigation Farhat removed Shehbaz Gill’s mask despite sharp disapproval from his lawyer.

The lawyer said Shahbaz Gill’s illness was a genuine issue and medical reports suggest that he was tortured from the medical report. He said the remand sheet given by police also shows that Gill’s physical remand is over. He complained over being not allowed his client at the hospital.

“The case will be heard in the Islamabad High Court on Monday. There is no doubt the 48-hour remand has been over,” the lawyer told the court. He strongly opposed giving further remand, saying that Gill’s life could be under threat.

Police prosecutor Rizwan Abbasi objected and said the law does not stop from giving physical remand due to illness. He said health of every person is essential but the investigation should be complete. He said according to jail doctors, Shahbaz Gill was completely fit and his medical reports were normal. He said Gill started facing health issues when he was remanded back into police custody.

A day earlier, the medical board of Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) hospital decided to discharge Shahbaz Gill after receiving reports of all medical tests that are termed satisfactory.

A six-member medical board contacted the federal police and informed them about their decision. The federal police have apprised the DIG and SSP Operation about the development. Shortly afterward, Shahbaz Gill was shifted to Kohsar police station.

On Wednesday, an Islamabad session court handed the PTI leader to Islamabad police on two-day physical remand. The PTI had expressed grave concern over the decision and claimed Shahbaz Gill will be tortured in custody to receive a false confessional statement.

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