Islamabad court disposes of Shahbaz Gill's bail plea in sedition case

• District and sessions court in Islamabad releases reserved verdict.
• Court reserved verdict on Gill's bail plea yesterday.
• Detailed verdict to be released shortly.

An Islamabad court on Tuesday disposed of senior PTI leader Shahbaz Gill's bail petition in the sedition case filed against him.

The district and sessions judge announced the reserved verdict on Gill's bail plea after hearing in-length arguments from both parties. 

“Statement of the accused [who is the leader of a national level popular party] is sensational which is sufficient for disturbing harmony and discipline in the most respected institution of Pakistan, Pakistan Army,” the detailed order read.

Gill is booked in a sedition and arms recovery case and is in jail after he was sent on judicial remand following back-and-forth hearings and his counsel's repeated allegations against the Islamabad police.

Gill was arrested on August 9 in Islamabad after a sedition case was filed against him for inciting mutiny within the Pakistan Army. He was already facing sedition charges, but the Islamabad Police — last week — also registered a case against the PTI leader over possession of an illegal weapon.

His bail in the arms recovery case has already been approved.

Gill was booked in the case after police raided the incarcerated PTI leader's room in Parliament Lodges late Monday — where they recovered weapons, a satellite phone, and foreign currency.

The PTI has repeatedly demanded that the party leader be released on bail, alleging that he is facing humiliation, torture and sexual abuse in police custody.

Gill, during the raid at his Parliament Lodge's residence, also told journalists that he had been sexually assaulted.

The party leader also asserted that he was denied treatment for asthma; however, the federal government and police have refuted the allegations.

The Human Rights Watch (HRW) has also demanded an immediate, independent, and transparent investigation into the alleged torture of Gill in police custody.

'Gill ready to apologise, clear misunderstanding': lawyer

During Monday's hearing, the PTI leader's counsel told Additional District and Sessions, Judge Zafar Iqbal, that his client was ready to apologise and clear any misunderstanding.

While giving arguments, Gill's lawyer contended that the complainant of the case city magistrate levelled allegations of sedition on the PTI leader after extracting different bits from the transcript of his remarks.

"Gill never thought about committing treason. There must be a misunderstanding about Gill's statement which he is willing to clear," he said.

"An incorrect tweet was posted after the army aircraft accident and it later went viral. There is no fault of Shahbaz Gill in that," the lawyer said, adding that the accused PTI leader even demanded punishment over the wrong tweet.