May 9 cases: PTI's Qureshi sent on 14-day judicial remand

• PTI leader’s counsel wonders what kind of in-camera trial it is.
• Taimoor Malik says he will talk to judge regarding media ban.
• Qureshi's daughter says stopping media is disappointing. 

RAWALPINDI: A local court in Rawalpindi on Thursday sent Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi on 14-day judicial remand in May 9 cases including the one pertaining to an attack on GHQ and directed to transfer him to the Adiala Jail.

A day earlier, Qureshi was initially arrested in a GHQ attack case from Adiala jail, but later he was booked in 12 other cases related to violent May 9 protests that broke out following the arrest of PTI founder Imran Khan earlier this year.

During the hearing today, the prosecutor sought permission for investigation should be granted in all the 12 cases including attack on the GHQ, army museum and office of an intelligence agency.

The prosecutor sought physical remand in the mentioned cases till January 2. Qureshi is also nominated in the case pertaining to setting the Metro Bus station on fire.

Prosecution lawyer Akram Amin pleaded with the court for the physical remand of Qureshi saying that a remand of up to 90 days can be given in a terrorism case.

“We have received reports from the FIA, PEMRA and intelligence agencies,” said the prosecutor.

He presented the video statement and Qureshi's tweets as evidence, the prosecution lawyer said Qureshi issued a protest call on his social media handle during the riots that broke out following the arrest of the PTI founder Imran Khan in corruption case earlier in May this year.

The lawyer said it had to be ascertained whether the protest call was against the institutions.

The protest calls were irrefutable evidence that it was an attack on institutions, said the prosecutor.

“We have to see what elements were behind the call for protest. We have irrefutable evidence in the light of which the arrest is made,” the prosecutor maintained.

Opposing the prosecution’s request, Qureshi’s lawyer Malik Imran told the court that there is no word mentioned in the report or in the PTI leader’s speech on the basis of which a case could be filed against his client.

He said FIR’s copy was not present in the entire challan.

After hearing the arguments, the court reserved its verdict on police’s plea seeking remand of Qureshi in the May 9 cases.

Later, the court announced its verdict and rejected the prosecution's plea for physical remand.  

'Mental, physical torture'

During a hearing of the case, Qureshi told Duty Magistrate Syed Jahangir Ali that he was “tortured mentally and physically as well as kept in harshest cold weather” after he was taken into custody by Rawalpindi police from Adiala Jail in GHQ attack case.

The PTI leader said the police tried to take his statement but he wanted to record his statement in the presence of his counsels.

Recalling yesterday's manhandling by police at Adiala prison, Qureshi told the judge that he was within the jail premises when police arrived there to arrest him. 

"I have been a member of assembly five times but [despite this] the SHO punched and kicked me," Qureshi said adding that police officer Ashfaq subjected him to torture.

He said he complained of chest pain and begged the superintendent police for hours to take him to hospital.

Qureshi said he would swear on the Holy Quran that he was not present in Rawalpindi on May 9 and instead, he was in Karachi that day.

“I was with my wife in the Aga Khan Hospital. Get a record from PEMRA, I was present in Karachi,” said Qureshi.

The PTI vice chairman requested the duty magistrate to get his handcuffs unlocked, upon which the judge directed the police to remove the handcuffs.

Qureshi said he was arrested under 3-MPO after being granted bail by three Supreme Court judges in the cipher.

'Ban on media coverage'

Earlier, barring journalists from entering the judicial complex, Rawalpindi Police claimed the media coverage of GHQ attack case against Shah Mahmood Qureshi was banned.

Qureshi was brought before the duty magistrate in the GHQ attack case in Rawalpindi where the police officials instructed journalists to talk to their seniors as media persons’ entry was not allowed.

Talking to the media, Qureshi's counsel Taimoor Malik wondered what kind of in-camera trial it was where the media was being stopped from carrying out its duties. He said he would talk to the judge regarding the restriction on media.

Meanwhile, Meher Bano Qureshi, the daughter of the incarcerated PTI leader, said, "We have to decide which direction we are heading". She said stopping the media was disappointing.

On December 26, PTI Vice-Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi's hopes of getting freedom were dashed after he was detained under Maintenance of Public Order (3-MPO) despite securing bail in the cipher case.

The 15-day detention order had been issued by the Rawalpindi deputy commissioner over Qureshi's alleged involvement in the May 9 riots and the possible adverse repercussions on public safety and law and order situation if he was to be released.

"It is probable that after his release from jail, he will again continue his above activities which may lead to a law and order situation, harmful to the life and property of the general public," the deputy commissioner's order had read.

Later, the deputy commissioner withdrew the detention order for Qureshi at Rawalpindi City Police Officer’s request before his rearrest on December 28 from the Adiala Jail on charges of attack on the GHQ on May 9, under two cases lodged in Sadar Bairuni and R A Bazaar police stations.

Minutes before being shoved into a police vehicle, Qureshi said “The rulers violated the order of the apex court and are arresting me again in a false case. I represent the nation. I am innocent and I am being targeted for vendetta without any reason.”

During the episode, the PTI leader kept protesting that he was being arrested illegally and accused the police of making a mockery of the Supreme Court’s orders. Qureshi was later handed over to the police to obtain his physical remand.