ISLAMABAD: An Islamabad court on Tuesday granted bail to Awami Muslim League (AML) chief Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed in a case against Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari. The request was rejected.
After hearing the arguments of the prosecution and Rashid’s lawyers, the court had reserved its decision on the case today.
At the beginning of the hearing, the court asked Rashid’s counsel if it was his position that his client was not part of the conspiracy to kill Imran Khan.
Rashid’s counsel Sardar Abdul Razak told the court that his client had quoted the statement of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan and that he was not part of the conspiracy.
The lawyer also said that the First Information Report (FIR) in the case was filed two days before Rasheed’s statement.
“Even if a murder is committed in front of the police, a case is not registered quickly,” said the lawyer. He added that the law enforcement agency conducted an inquiry and registered a case.
The lawyer said that the police should have investigated Asif Ali Zardari but the opposite happened. He further said that PTI Chairman’s statement is based on facts.
There is a conspiracy to kill Imran Khan, which is not being registered. However, a defamation case has been registered against Asif Zardari.
The lawyer also said that a notice was issued against his client on January 31 but it was never sent but was aired on television channels. He added that when the High Court suspended the notice, a case was registered against Rashid the next day.
Raziq also told the court that the case was registered on the request of a private complainant and not a state officer.
“A common citizen, who is a PPP worker, made allegations against Sheikh Rasheed,” Raziq said. He further said that if PPP co-chairman Asif Zardari had filed a complaint, the case would have been different.
The lawyer said that Asif Zardari could have sent a defamation notice to Imran Khan for making allegations. He added that his client had only said that what Imran Khan says is true.
The lawyer also argued that the police could not detect anything during his client’s physical remand.
Raziq told the court that the case against Sheikh Rasheed was only registered for political revenge. He also claimed that he took away Rs 700,000 and valuables during the police search of his client’s house.
The lawyer claimed that two bulletproof cars from his client’s house were also seized.
There is no need to investigate Sheikh Rasheed. The bail application should be approved. [The] The High Court in its judgment also prohibited further proceedings,” said Razak, concluding his argument.
Rashid’s second lawyer Intizar Panjotha told the court that there was no political campaign or untoward incident on his client’s statement.
Urging the court to accept the bail plea, Panjutha also told the court that the sections included in the FIR against Rashid can only be included if a state officer is the complainant. .
Once Rashid’s lawyer wrapped up his arguments, the judge told the lawyers that his client had made a statement against Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah in a hospital and asked if the statement was likely to cause unrest in the country.
On this, Rashid’s lawyer told the court that the Islamabad High Court has suspended the application related to it, adding that the statement was made during detention and therefore it has no significance.
Prosecutors opposed bail.
Meanwhile, the prosecutor maintained that Rasheed is repeatedly committing crimes with his statements while in custody.
The lawyer took the stand that Rasheed wants a clash between PTI and PPP. He further said that Rashid’s statement is likely to spread chaos in the country.
The prosecution also told the court that the High Court in its order had only restrained from summoning Rashid. He further said that the former interior minister’s behavior during detention was also unusual.
Sheikh Rashid was arrested with great difficulty. If he gets bail, he will run away,” the prosecutor said while opposing the bail plea.