Sheikh Rashid handed over on 14-day judicial remand

• Sheikh Rashid’s was handed over on judicial remand
• Sheikh Rashid was brought to the local court in Islamabad
• Sheikh Rashid’s handcuffs were removed on court order

ISLAMABAD: A district and sessions court in the federal capital has sent Awami Muslim League (AML) chief Sheikh Rashid Ahmed on judicial remand for 14 days, BOL News reported.

The former interior minister was brought to the local court of Judicial Magistrate Umar Shabbir under tight security after the completion of his physical remand.

The police requested an extension for physical remand for five days. The investigation officer informed the court that voice-matching tests had been done and the photogrammetry test was left to confirm his identity.

Police said a case has been registered in Mochko police station and Sheikh Rashid needs to be transferred to Karachi. He said another case was registered over Rashid’s remarks outside Polyclinic.

Sheikh Rashid complained that the police blindfolded and tied him to a chair for hours. He pleaded to take him to a hospital and grant him security by Rangers. The judge ordered to remove Sheikh Rashid’s handcuffs in court.

Rashid’s lawyer Abdul Razzaq started his arguments, saying that the sections imposed in the case against his client were not valid. He said the since the clauses were bailable, his client should be granted bail on the submission of surety bonds.

He mentioned that three sections — 120B (criminal conspiracy), 153A (promoting enmity between different groups), and 505 (statements conducing to public mischief) — are included in the FIR.

He argued that Rashid was sent into police custody for two days for investigation. He also alleged that that his client was “tortured” by police officials. The state prosecutor said said he was given two-day remand for investigation in the case.

Lawyer Intizar Pansota opposed the extension of physical remand, saying that the case was made on political grounds. He said Sheikh Rashid is a senior politician and deplored how police was handling him.

The lawyer said the judiciary is the last hope of the people and the court has to protect Sheikh Rashid’s human rights. He said the prosecution should be asked about the progress of the investigation during the two-day physical remand.

The court eventually rejected police plea for extension in physical remand and handed him over on judicial remand to Adiala Jail for 14 days. The court will hear the former interior minister’s plea for bail on Monday, February 6.

A case has been filed against Sheikh Rashid at Aabpara Police Station for allegedly making remarks against former president Asif Ali Zardari.

Another case has been lodged against him in Murree for threatening police personnel, while he has been named in two separate FIRs in Karachi for passing comments against PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari.

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