Shahbaz Gill's condition not okay, do another medical check-up, rules Islamabad court

• Court orders keeping Shahbaz Gill at PIMS for reassessment of health.
• Islamabad police term Gill's illness "an excuse".
• IHC reserves verdict on plea seeking board for Gill's medical examination.

A district and sessions court in Islamabad ordered to send Imran Khan's chief of staff Shahbaz Gill to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) for a reassessment of his health while announcing the verdict on a plea seeking an extension in Gill's physical remand in a sedition case filed against him.

"Shahbaz Gill's condition is not fine," the court remarked while announcing the verdict reserved by duty judge Judicial Magistrate Raja Farrukh Ali Khan.

The authorities have been directed to be kept in PIMS hospital till Monday.

PTI Chairman Imran Khan's chief of staff Shahbaz Gill was presented before the court early morning. He was escorted by the police to court in a wheelchair from the PIMS hospital after being deemed "fit" by a medical board. Strict security arrangements were in place outside the court.

At the outset of the hearing, Gill pleaded to the court to return his oxygen mask, complaining that it was snatched while he was being escorted to the courtroom. 

Read more: Shahbaz Gill bursts into tears on his way to court

“For God’s sake, give me my mask back,” he said.

At this, the judge asked him if he intends to stay, to which Gill said he will if his mask is provided to him.

Later, an oxygen cylinder was also brought to the court.

Police request eight more days of Gill's custody

Meanwhile, the police requested an extension of eight days in Gill's physical remand.

At this, the court inquired why the police was requesting for another eight days of Gill's custody when a two-day remand had already been granted.

The first question is whether the police was able to investigate in two days, the court said.

"Are the police seeking a new remand or an extension in the existing remand?" the judge questioned, asking whether the initial two-day remand had even started technically.

Giving his arguments, special prosecutor Rizwan Abbasi said that the investigation officer is supposed to take care of the accused's health if the court has granted a remand.

"It is written nowhere that physical remand cannot be granted if the accused is unwell," he said, adding that the IO can have the accused undergo a medical examination without a court's order.

However, Gill's lawyer opposed the request for extension in Gill's remand.

Islamabad police term Gill's illness 'an excuse'

Moreover, the police of the federal capital termed Gill's illness "an excuse", saying that the medical board had declared him "completely fit".

"The accused is pretending to be sick and wants to hinder the investigations through this excuse but this cannot come in the way of law," the Islamabad Capital Territory Police said in a statement issued on Twitter.

Verdict on plea seeking board for Gill's medical examination reserved

Separately, the Islamabad High Court reserved its verdict on the admissibility of a plea seeking the formation of a board for Gill's medical examination.

The PTI had filed a miscellaneous plea in the IHC on Thursday for the formation of a judicial commission to probe alleged "mental and physical" torture inflicted on him during remand.

The plea requested that Gill be allowed to get treatment from wherever he wants.

Gill deemed fit

Meanwhile, Shahbaz Gill is absolutely healthy, declared a medical report by the PIMS Hospital.

Sources said doctors of the PIMS hospital released Gill's medical report late Thursday. The medical board issued the report after conducting ten different tests, including the coronavirus test. All his tests are clear, according to the report.

Besides, six different X-rays were also carried out. The report says the PTI leader is in good physical health and no signs of torture were found on his body.

Sources say that Shahbaz Gill can be discharged from the hospital at any time. The doctors of the medical board are of the opinion that Shahbaz Gill is fully fit but they have prevented the police officers from interrogating him at the hospital premises.