Murder plot allegations: Sheikh Rashid’s bail petition rejected

ISLAMABAD: A district and sessions court in Islamabad Thursday rejected the post-arrest bail plea of former interior minister Sheikh Rashid.

The Awami Muslim League (AML) chief is facing charges of levelling murder plot allegations against Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari, threatening police personnel, and passing "offensive" and "filthy" comments against Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari in multiple cities.

He is currently in Murree police's custody on a transitory remand in a case related to threatening police personnel.

Rashid's lawyers had filed a new plea seeking the former minister's bail in the sessions court, following the rejection by a judicial magistrate. However, the sessions court judge, Tahir Mehmood, forwarded the plea to an additional sessions court.

The plea stated that Rashid had been targeted for political vengeance and the police were misused against him. More investigation is not needed as he was on judicial remand in Adiala Jail, it added.

It should be noted that the plea was filed before the trial court handed over Rashid to police on a transitory remand for his transfer to Murree to be presented before a court there.

Murree court sends Rashid to jail on judicial remand

Meanwhile, Rashid was presented before civil judge Muhammad Zeeshan's court in Murree, while the police sought a three-day physical remand of the former minister.

However, the court rejected the police's plea and ordered to send Rashid to jail on judicial remand.

On Wednesday, a local court in Islamabad had sent the AML chief Rashid Ahmed into police custody on transitory remand in the case registered against him in Murree for threatening police.