A court in Attock rejected Wednesday police’s request to extend the physical remand of MNA Sheikh Rashid Shafique, nephew of former interior minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed, and sent him to jail on a judicial remand in a case of violating the sanctity of Prophet’s Mosque, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.
The police, following the court orders, transferred Sheikh Rashid Shafique to Attock Jail under tight security.
The court also announced April 6 as the date of hearing for bail.
Earlier in the day, Sheikh Rashid Shafique, who had been arrested over chanting slogans at Masjid-e-Nabvi against Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif-led delegation, was produced in the court after completion of his two-day physical remand.
Duty Magistrate Muhammad Zeeshan expressed anger at police over their failure to recover the mobile phone of the accused which was carrying a video in which he confessed to chanting slogans against the government delegation in Madinah.
Police told the court that the accused’s mobile phone was left in Saudi Arabia to which the judge said: “How can it be possible that his personal mobile phone was left in Saudi Arabia?”
He ordered the police to submit an answer to the court after locating the mobile phone of the accused within 30 minutes.
On the occasion, strict security arrangements had been ensured by police on the court premises. The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) workers gathered outside the court and chanted slogans against the government.
It is likely that the accused will further be remanded in the police custody.
Reporter: Muhammad Imran