LHC seeks replies from IGP, RPO, CPO on Sheikh Rashid’s arrest

Lahore High Court, Rawalpindi Bench, has sought a reply from the Punjab IG police, RPO, and CPO on Awami Muslim League (AML) leader and PTI ally Sheikh Rashid's arrest by September 22, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

While hearing the petition on Tuesday against the arrest of former federal interior minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed along with his nephew and an employee, Justice Sadaqat Ali Khan, senior judge of the Rawalpindi Bench of the Lahore High Court, sought answers from the IGP, RPO, CPO and Deputy Commissioner.

The petition was filed by Sheikh Rashid’s nephew Sheikh Amir Shafiq.

According to the petition, police took Sheikh Rashid and other people to an unknown place without warrants where they were kept in illegal confinement.

During the hearing, the lawyer told the court that 2 days had passed since Sheikh Rashid was arrested from his home. But he has not been produced in any court yet. There is no case against the former interior minister in Punjab and Islamabad, this detention is illegal.

He said that this was not an arrest but a kidnapping. The court should order the authorities to produce him in court immediately.

The judge remarked that let the answer come, then the court would take action.

The court also issued a notice to the Assistant Advocate General in connection with the case.

The court adjourned the hearing of the case on September 22, seeking a detailed response.

On the other hand, lawyer Sardar Razzak has claimed that the driver of former federal interior minister Sheikh Rashid, Sajjad, reached home last night and his motorcycle was also found. However, Sheikh Rashid, his nephew Sheikh Shakir, and employee Sheikh Imran have not come forward yet.

Sh Rashid moves IHC for quashment of FIRs lodged in Sindh, Balochistan 

Sheikh Rashid Ahmad on Tuesday filed a petition in the Islamabad High Court (IHC), seeking quashment of cases registered against him in Karachi and Balochistan for using derogatory language against PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari.

In his petition, Rasheed argued how a case could be registered in provinces when he had made the speech in question in Islamabad.  

Seeking assistance from the attorney general, the court issued bailable arrest warrants for the investigation officer (IO) in the case registered against the AML chief at Mochku police station of Karachi.

The IO had failed to show up despite court summons.

The IHC said that the inspector general of police (IGP) Sindh would ensure arrest of the officer.

It inquired from the government’s lawyer as to which obscene word the petitioner had used against the PPP chairman.

The court asked how case of an incident that had taken place in Islamabad could be lodged in Karachi.

The government’s lawyer replied that somebody might have seen Rasheed using these words against Bilawal on social media and he might have gone to police station to report it.

The judge wondered whether case of any incident that had taken place in the federal capital could be registered in Karachi. “Former prime minister Benazir Bhutto was assassinated at Rawalpindi’s Liaquat Bagh, but the case was registered at a local police station, and not in Larkana, despite the fact that video of the incident had gone viral on social media.

However, investigation officer (IO) in the case registered against the AML chief in Lasbela did appear in the court.

He told the court that although efforts were made to trace the petitioner, but the police failed to find him.

“What will you now do with the FIR?” the judge asked.

The officer replied that the police would not quash the FIR.

The court also issued bailable arrest warrants for petitioner in the case named Ali Asghar.

The court adjourned the case’s hearing until the second week of November.

 

 Reporters Irshad Qureshi and Rozina Ali