ISLAMABAD: Islamabad High Court (IHC) rejected appeal against physical remand of PTI's Leader Shahbaz Gill and also instructed government to appoint an inquiry officer on allegations of torture against accused.

Court said it couldn't interfere into matter of physical remand of accused. Court order stated that a SP ranked police officer would supervise physical remand of accused and would ensure that no violence would be used against him (Gill) during police custody. Court instructed government and secretary interior to appoint a retired judge of high court an inquiry officer to probe matter of torture on accused.

Acting Chief Justice Aamer Farooq announced verdict which was earlier reserved after listening arguments from two sides in a case against accused's remand in sedition case registered by Kohsar Police Station and matter of torture during police custody. Advocate General Islamabad Jahangir Jadoon, Inspector General of Police Dr. Akber Nasir Khan and administration of Central Jail Adiala also appeared.

At outset of hearing, Advocate General informed court that PTI's Chief Imran Khan had given a threatening statement against woman additional session judge. He requested court to take notice of this statement. Shoaib Shaheen Advocate said a case under sections Anti-Terrorism Act had already been registered against Imran Khan due to said statement. He said that law would take its own course. Justice Farooq remarked that Imran Khan's statement had no connection with case. During hearing, investigation officer informed court that accused Shahbaz Gill had given controversial statement on TV channel through a landline phone number at resident of PTI's head Imran Khan in Banigala.  Special prosecutor Rizwan Abbasi adopted stance that police diaries couldn't be shared with defence lawyers, adding that only court could see it. He pleaded that defence lawyers could damage evidence if given them prior access to diaries.

Court said this was not sole case of remand before it, adding that it had to hear a number of such cases after it as well. Court had to ensure that no such precedent should be set that may freeze judicial system in future. Gill's Counsel Suleman Safdar claimed that his client was severely tortured, adding that it was a routine matter in country. Court could take notice on it, he said.

Published in The Daily National Courier, August, 23 2022

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