Court rejects Sheikh Rashid’s bail plea.
ISLAMABAD: A district and sessions court in Islamabad denied bail to Awami Muslim League (AML) chief Sheikh Rashid in a case involving remarks he made about former president and co-chairman Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Asif Ali Zardari.
In the court of Judicial Magistrate Umar Shabbir, Sardar Abdul Razzaq, the attorney for Sheikh Rashid, the plaintiff’s attorney, and the prosecutor all made appearances. Referring to Rashid’s remarks, the AML chief’s attorney said that his client had merely reiterated Imran Khan’s accusations against Zardari.
Additionally, the attorney claimed that after Rashid aired his opinions in an interview on January 29, a FIR was filed against him two days later. When the case was filed, “the interview had not yet broadcast,” he claimed. The attorney said, “The high court called the police on February 6, but the police had already filed a case.” He declared, “A case has been filed against Sheikh Rashid instead of examining Zardari.
The attorney continued by saying that while a case was being filed for the slander of Zardari, a plan was being developed to kill Imran. “No case has been registered by an authorised officer. On the basis of a private complaint, Sheikh Rashid was the target of a case. A case cannot be lodged under the established provisions at the request of a private complainant, “The former interior minister’s attorney made this claim.
He added that the complaint had not been submitted by Asif Zardari but rather by an anonymous person. The attorney further disclosed to the court that a notice had been issued regarding the request to quash the FIR. “I ask that Sheikh Rashid be given a bail release. This situation involves politics, “Added he.
Later, the plaintiff’s attorney claimed Imran made the same accusation against Zardari and questioned why he was left out of the lawsuit. Rashid’s bail plea was denied by Judicial Magistrate Umar Shabir after the court reserved its judgement on it. The AML chief can submit an application for election nomination forms, the court magistrate said in his conclusion. But the court will decide after looking at prison laws.
