A court in the federal capital Wednesday morning approved a two-day physical remand of PTI leader Shahbaz Gill in a sedition case. The case hearing took place amid strict security arrangements, with duty magistrate Umar Shabbir ordering police to present the PTI leader in court on Friday. During the brief proceedings, police requested a remand of the PTI leader. The court then briefly reserved its verdict before eventually granting a two-day physical remand. The Islamabad police took Gill, who is PTI Chairman Imran Khan chief of staff, into custody Monday afternoon from Bani Gala Chowk for inciting the public against state institutions. Providing reasons for the remand, the police told the court they still need to recover Gill mobile phone and the device he used to make the statements he was arrested for.

We also need to investigate at whose behest the programme was aired, the police told the judge. Faisal Chauhdry, Gill counsel, told the judge that the programme was not aired on anyone directives. The case against Gill has been registered at the Kohsar police station. The first information report (FIR) contains violations of various sections of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC). Gill arrest invited strong criticism from the PTI leadership, with the party chairperson saying Gill was not arrested, but  abducted Gill had attempted to incite hatred within the Pakistan Army while speaking on a private TV channel two days back. He had been using abusive language against the journalists and hurled threats at senior bureaucrats. The PTI leader had been involved in personal attacks and making below-the-belt remarks against his political opponents.

Credit:
Independent News Pakistan-INP