The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Thursday summoned authorities to appear before it at 3pm while hearing Shahbaz Gill’s plea against his physical remand.
A day earlier, a judicial magistrate had granted Islamabad police two-day physical remand of Gill and ordered officials to conduct a medical examination.
However, the PTI leader, who was booked in a sedition case, was being held at Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail, which falls within the jurisdiction of the Punjab government where the party is in power along with PML-Q.
In a bid to thwart the handover, arrangements were made to move Gill to Rawalpindi District Headquarters (DHQ) Hospital after he complained of breathing difficulties.
A standoff ensued but the Islamabad police finally managed to get Gill’s custody and moved him to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) on Wednesday night.
The PTI has claimed that Gill has been tortured during his incarceration. The party has also alleged that the PTI leader is being coerced into making a statement against party chief Imran Khan.
On Thursday, IHC Acting Chief Justice Aamer Farooq took up the Gill’s plea against his physical remand while lawyers Faisal Chaudhry and Shoaib Shaheen represented the politician.
Additional sessions judge (east), the Islamabad inspector general of police, SSP investigation, SHO Kohsar, City Magistrate Ghulam Mustafa Chandio and the state were made respondents in the petition.
During the hearing, Shaheen contended that the additional sessions judge did not follow the “guidelines” provided within the law.
I have come to know that Gill has been admitted to Pims. The Adiala Jail superintendent has been summoned so that we can verify the facts, Justice Farooq said.
At one point, Shaheen contended that they were not being allowed to meet Gill. The judge responded that this matter would also be discussed when the officials appear.
The hearing was subsequently adjourned till 3pm.
In the order, a copy of which is available with Dawn.com, the court issued notices to the respondents excluding the sessions judge.
The court also summoned the Islamabad inspector general of police, SSP investigation, SHO Kohsar, and the Adiala Jail superintendent and medical officer along with the relevant records at 3pm.
“Notice shall also be issued to the learned advocate general, Islamabad as well as additional attorney general, Islamabad to appear before the given time for the assistance of the court,” the order said.
The court directed the advocate general to ensure the presence of the Islamabad inspector general of police, SSP investigation, SHO Kohsar and City Magistrate Ghulam Mustafa Chandio.
Meanwhile, the Pims medical board, constituted to conduct an examination of Gill, submitted its report with the court of Judicial Magistrate Raja Farrukh Ali Khan.
