In a case about the riots that occurred on May 9, an anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Rawalpindi denied the police’s request for a 30-day physical remand of Sheikh Rashid Ahmed, chief of the Awami Muslim League (AML), and his nephew, Rashid Shafiq.
Just one day after being granted bail in one instance pertaining to the May 9, 2023 riots, the former interior minister and his nephew were brought before the ATC today.
The New Town police station asked the ATC judge to place Rashid under physical remand for 30 days so that the AML chief may undergo sonographic and photographic testing after he allegedly made provocative statements.
The prosecution was asked by the court to play the speeches in court. But the prosecution said the speeches were on a USB drive that was in the custody of the police.
The ATC judge then issued an order for the police to bring the USB drive into court without delay.
The attorney representing Rashid said that his client was wanted for “revenge” and that the head of AML was absent from the scene of the May 9 incident.
Since the statute allowed for a remand of the duration, the investigating officer insisted on remanding the ex-interior minister to the police for thirty days simultaneously. He claimed that a sonographic examination would be conducted on the ex-PPI ally at a forensic lab in Lahore.
But the judge insisted on having all of his questions answered on Rashid’s probe. Since the arrest, what kind of investigation have you carried out? Who asked you those questions? The judge expressed his dissatisfaction with the prosecution’s responses and told them that he would not award a remand until they pleased him.
“Stop feeding me fiction. “Please keep me updated on the status,” the ATC judge demanded.
Due to the prosecution’s inability to obtain any evidence from Rashid and his nephew, the court later denied their motion for physical remand.
A judicial remand to Adiala jail was issued by the court for the former minister and his nephew, with orders to be re-presented on January 30.
Afraid about losing elections
After the hearing, Rashid spoke to the media informally and said, “PTI workers who will not vote for me will be supporting the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM)”.
“Nevertheless, I refrained from participating in any press conference during my month-plus incarceration,” he continued. If someone can convince me otherwise, I will leave politics.
While maintaining his optimism for the approaching elections, Rashid sought compensation for the sacrifices he had made and the progress he had made in his hometown.
The AML leader further stated that the police had compiled six or seven distinct pieces of his remarks in an effort to incriminate him, but that they had come no closer to the truth.
The AML chief was apprehended in connection with the GHQ attack on Tuesday, only one day after he was granted bail in eleven other instances pertaining to May 9.
The former interior minister’s lawyer took the position that his client was innocent since the prosecution lacked evidence. The inclusion of Sheikh Rashid and Rashid Shafiq’s names in these cases was completely without merit.
Riots on May 9th occurred last year when then-PTI chairman Imran Khan was arrested on corruption charges, leading to assaults on state infrastructure. Both the Rawalpindi army general headquarters and the Lahore residence of the corps commander were among the targets of the assault.
The GHQ, army museum, intelligence agency office, and metro bus station arson attacks are among the incidents where Rashid and his nephew have had their interim bails extended by the ATC.
