ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday refused to acquit Shahbaz Gill in the sedition case and asked him to approach the trial court where he is going to be indicted on Tuesday (today).

IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq took up Mr Gill’s petition seeking his acquittal in the case registered against him over his controversial remarks aired on a private television channel.

Justice Farooq asked the prosecution if they had submitted the challan to the trial court. The state counsel told the court that copies of the challan had been submitted to the accused persons and the court was likely to indict them on Tuesday.

Justice Farooq observed that the accused could seek relief from the trial court.

Mr Gill was arrested on Aug 9 after the case was registered against him at the Kohsar police station under Pakistan Penal Code (PPC)’s sections 124-A (sedition), 131 (abetting mut­iny or attempting to seduce a soldier, sailor or airman from his du­­ty), 153 (wantonly giving provocation with intent to cause riot if rioting be committed; if not com­­mited), 153-A (promoting enmity) between different groups, etc), and 505 (statements conducing to public mischief) and 506 (punishment for criminal intimidation).

According to the FIR, a programme was aired on a news channel in which Mr Gill appeared as a guest. Answering a question, he tried to create a divide between the officers below the rank of brigadier and above besides trying to affiliate the officers below the rank of brigadier with a political party, it added.

ATC extends Imran’s interim bail

The Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) extended the interim bail of PTI Chairman Imran Khan till Nov 28 and sought his medical report on a plea seeking exemption from his personal appearance.

His counsel submitted an application to ATC Judge Raja Jawad Abbas Hassan stating that Mr Khan was yet to recover from the injuries he sustained in an assassination attempt as he was leading the long march to Islamabad on Nov 3.

The court accepted the exemption plea and adjourned further hearing till Nov 28.

Meanwhile, IHC Justice Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri removed administrative objections on the petition of PTI leader Ali Amin Gandapur seeking to quash cases related to alleged violence during the PTI’s previous protest.

The IHC registrar office had raised some objections on the petition.

His counsel Raja Zahoor requested formal hearing of the petition.

Published in Dawn, November 22nd, 2022