ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court granted bail to Awami Muslim League chief Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed on a bond of Rs 50,000.
The former interior minister had approached the IHC for bail in the case filed against him for accusing former president Asif Ali Zardari of conspiring to kill former prime minister Imran Khan.
Senior politicians from Rawalpindi are currently in jail on judicial remand.
At the start of today’s hearing, Rashid’s lawyer Salman Akram Raja told the court that his client is seeking bail after his arrest. He further said that the Additional Sessions Judge rejected the bail plea in the case filed on only one charge.
The court inquired what was the charge?
Raja told the court that a case was registered against his client based on his statement aired on news channels. He further said that the former interior minister is currently on judicial remand.
The lawyer added that the court, while rejecting bail, said it was feared that Rasheed might make such statements again after being released.
The court once again asked the lawyer what Rasheed had alleged and whether it was aired on any news channel.
“Yes, he gave a statement which was aired on news channels. The evidence does not show that it led to a fight between Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf and Pakistan People’s Party,” argued the lawyer.
When Raja completed his arguments, Islamabad’s Advocate General Jahangir Jadon came to the rostrum.
Jadoon said that Rashid is a senior politician and his statements should be parliamentary. He further said that those who are currently in the government will be in the opposition tomorrow.
The government lawyer told the court that Rasheed also abused Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari.
On this, Raja intervened and said that the public prosecutor was referring to a different case.
Meanwhile, the investigating officer told the court that he had obtained the details of Rashid’s statement from the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA).
The officer said that Rashid had told that he got this information from Imran Khan. However, he added that when Rashid was interrogated, he could not find any evidence from him of Asif Zardari’s alleged plot to kill Imran Khan.
The court reserved judgment in the case which was heard later.
Cases against AML chief
Several cases were registered against the AML chief after he supported Khan’s allegations that Zardari was plotting to kill the PTI chief.
According to the police, Rashid was initially arrested on February 2 in the case of making allegations against Zardari.
A day later the Maury police also registered a case against him.
An FIR was also registered against Rashid for using ‘foul’ language against Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto in Karachi’s Mochko police station. A similar case was registered against him in Lasbela.
