I was punched and kicked after rearrest, Qureshi tells court
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A court in Rawalpindi on Thursday rejected the Punjab police’s request seeking physical remand of former two-time foreign minister and PTI Vice-Chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi, instead sent him to prison on 14-day judicial remand in a fresh case linked to May 9 vandalism, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.
After the hearing concluded, Qureshi came out of the court and made a victory-sign. The police then took away the PTI leader.
شاہ محمود قریشی نے جوڈیشل ہونے کے بعد کمرہ عدالت سے باہر نکل کر وکٹری کا نشان بنایا، وکلا کے’’کون بچائے گا پاکستان، عمران خان عمران خان، اگلی واری فیر نیازی‘‘ کے نعرے۔ pic.twitter.com/kYpvpMli8L
— PTI (@PTIofficial) December 28, 2023
Earlier on Thursday, Qureshi, who was rearrested from outside Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi on Wednesday, was handcuffed and produced in a court at Judicial Complex Rawalpindi..
The court reserved its decision on prosecution’s request to grant six-day physical remand of the former foreign minister.
Qureshi was presented before Duty Magistrate Syed Jahangir Ali by the Punjab police personnel as other judges have gone on winter vacation.
اڈیالہ جیل منتقل ہوتے وقت شاہ محمود قریشی کا ایک بار پھر وکٹری کا نشان۔
— PTI (@PTIofficial) December 28, 2023
pic.twitter.com/kWIGvM2O3R
As the proceedings were set into motion, Magistrate Jahangir Ali ordered the police to remove Qureshi’s handcuffs.
The prosecutor requested for six-day physical remand till January 2. Defence lawyer Ali Bukhari said that the PTI vice-chairman should be discharged. The court, however, reserved its ruling on physical remand.
پاکستان کے 2 بار وزیر خارجہ رہنے والے شاہ محمود قریشی کو ہتھکڑیاں لگا کر جوڈیشل کمپلیکس پیش کر دیا گیا، پاکستان میں اس وقت جنگل کا قانون رائج ہے۔ #ShahMehmoodQureshi pic.twitter.com/nyd3EzIvax
— PTI (@PTIofficial) December 28, 2023
The prosecutor sought a six-day physical remand of Qureshi, arguing remand in terrorism cases could be taken for even 90 days, adding he had reports from the FIA and Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority. “We found evidence against Qureshi [in the reports],” he said, adding evidence was also collected from social media and the same was presented in court.
Prosecutor Akram Amin contended that Quresi’s speech on May 9 was not ordinary. “We are not saying that Qureshi was among those who attacked GHQ … we are saying he made a speech that led to the GHQ attack,” he maintained.
He added that during the remand, the police would investigate the effects of Qureshi’s speech and conduct photogrammetric tests. Subsequently, the prosecutor sought the PTI leader’s custody until January 2.
On the other hand, Qureshi’s lawyer Ali Bukhari requested the court to discharge his client from the case. He also raised objections to bringing the PTI leader to court in handcuffs. “The prosecution just has a single tweet against my client in which he had urged the public to protest with the PTI chairman,” he said, adding Qureshi was kept in “unlawful custody” for 24 hours.
Bukhari further stated that the purpose of physical remand was to “torture”.
During the hearing, Shah Mehmood Qureshi came to the rostrum and said he wanted to record his statement before the court. “I was mentally and physically tortured after my illegal rearrest. I was pushed, kicked and punched by SHO Jamal,” he added.
Qureshi said, “I am the former foreign minister. Three senior judges of the Supreme Court granted bail to me and issued my release order. At the same time, the detention order was given. I accepted the detention and went back to the prison. I asked for a copy of the termination of the detention order. But, they took me away and kept me in illegal jail. Through the night they asked me about it, then at the same time changed its date to December 26 instead of December 27.”
The PTI leader said “How am I a threat to the public? I have been in jail for several months. I had been told in Adiala Jail that the MPO orders against him would be withdrawn but the date was later extended to Dec 27 instead of Dec 26.”
The former foreign minister said he had been detained from inside Adiala Jail illegally, highlighting that he had been a member of the Parliament five times. “Police officials had kicked and ridiculed me. It wasn’t taken to a doctor despite multiple requests.”
He said “A team came to me saying that they wanted to record a statement on the May 9 violence. These people want to nominate me in cases related to May 9. I was in Karachi on May 9 … my wife was undergoing surgery there.”
He alleged that he was kept in a cold cell last night and wasn’t allowed to sleep. I was tortured mentally and physically.”
At one point, Qureshi, while mentioning his contributions to Pakistan, became emotional and said he had fought for the country’s institutions in the world. “Is this justice?” he asked.
At that, the judge ordered the police to remove Qureshi’s handcuffs. The PTI leader also said that he could swear upon the Holy Quran that he was not in Rawalpindi, or Punjab, on May 9.
After hearing the arguments, the court reserved its verdict on the police plea seeking Qureshi’s physical remand.
The name of PTI Vice Chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi has been included in 12 more cases, the TV channel reported.
Earlier, Qureshi’s lawyer Barrister Taimoor and his daughter Meher Bano also reached outside the Judicial Complex in Rawalpindi.
"Even terrorists are not treated the way my father is being treated." Daughther of former Foreign Minister of Pakistan #ShahMehmoodQureshi talks to the media outside the court.#PakistanUnderFascism pic.twitter.com/2SSbrdgdOE
— PTI (@PTIofficial) December 28, 2023
A video clip uploaded by the PTI on social media showed the PTI leader being brought to the court in an armoured police van. The cops could be seen pushing a handcuffed Qureshi towards the courtroom.
The security arrangements were tight as heavy police presence was observed outside the Judicial Complex.
Qureshi was manhandled and rearrested from outside Adiala Jail on Wednesday in connection with May 9 attack on GHQ gate.
Barrister Taimur Malik while talking to the media men asked is this an in-camera trial where the media is being barred from attending the court proceedings. “We will talk to the honourable judge regarding restrictions on the media coverage,” he added.
Meher Bano said: “Now, the public has to decide in which direction Pakistan is heading. Depriving the media of coverage is a sad practice.”
Meher Bano expressed displeasure at the security arrangements made at the court. “It seems as if they are presenting a terrorist. Even the terrorists are not treated the way my father is being treated,” she said. “No one is allowed to enter the Judicial Complex,” Meher Bano pointed out, adding that the police’s behaviour was disappointing.
Talking about yesterday’s arrest, she said the scenes had created a “joke out of Pakistan in a neighbouring country”. “Even the neighbouring country would be wondering how a former foreign minister is being treated,” Meher Bano added.
Reporter Irshad Qureshi