ISLAMABAD: Senior PTI leader Shahbaz Gill has approached Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday, challenging the rejection of his acquittal plea by lower judiciary.
Also read: Islamabad court decides to indict Shahbaz Gill on Feb 27
In his petition, Gill pleaded to the court to declare Islamabad district and sessions court verdict null and void and acquit him in the sedition case.
Gill has made the federation respondent in the case.
The district and sessions court in Islamabad fixed February 27 for the indictment of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader and former SAPM Shahbaz Gill in a sedition case.
Additional Sessions Judge Tahir Abbas Supra rejected Gill’s acquittal plea and decided to indict him in sedition case on February 27.
Case Background:
Shahbaz Gill was taken arrested on August 9 on allegation of inciting mutiny within the Pakistan Army through his remarks during a private TV channel show.
He was booked in a sedition and arms recovery case in August and stayed in detention for over a month. He, however, finally got bail from the Islamabad High Court (IHC) in the sedition case on September 15, after repeatedly attempting to get released.
The case against Gill is registered at Kohsar Police Station, under Sections 124-A (sedition), 505 (statements conducing to public mischief), and of the Pakistan Penal Code.
The PTI had been insistent in demanding the party leader’s bail, alleging that he is facing humiliation, torture and sexual abuse in police custody.
While Gill was in police custody, the PTI had repeatedly alleged that he was “sexually assaulted”, “tortured”, and “stripped-naked”. However, the authorities completely denied the claims.