Shahbaz Gill, the leader of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), was transported to court in an ambulance on Friday, and the district and sessions court in the federal capital postponed the indictment of him in a sedition case for encouraging revolt in state institutions.
The court issued a bailable arrest order for Ammad Yousaf, a private channel news director who was also booked in the case. The indictment of Gill was deferred until January 20.
Prosecutor Rizwan Abbasi, Gill’s attorney Burhan Muazzam, and Yousaf’s attorney all appeared before the court today. The hearing took place before Additional District and Sessions Judge Tahir Abbas Supra.
Yousaf’s attorney claimed that because of malaria, he was unable to attend court. Along with his medical assessment, his attorney also submitted a motion asking to be excused from making a personal appearance in court.
“It seems as if you have taken turns,” the judge said. The judge was referring to Gill’s arrival from Lahore in an ambulance and Yousaf’s absence from court.
The PTI leader’s attorney added that Gill was present outside the court. He was in an ambulance but unable to move due to an oxygen mask.
In response, the court delayed the indictment of Gill and continued the hearing to January 20. It also issued a warrant for Yousaf’s arrest that is subject to bail in exchange for surety bond worth Rs50,000.
Shahbaz Gill cannot be arrested, according to the court
Shahbaz Gill was charged last month with inciting dissent in state-run institutions, and the court denied his request for a personal attendance exemption. As a result, a warrant for his arrest with the possibility of bail was issued.
Gill’s absence from the court and request for a waiver of personal appearance angered the judge. The judge added that it seemed the defendant did not want the case to move forward.
Special prosecutor Rizwan Abbasi stated that Gill did not seem to be a serious offender. Abbasi asked the court to issue a non-bailable arrest warrant for Gill. Gill’s attorney, Shehryar Tariq, told the judge that his client’s health issues were discovered during a checkup when he was under physical remand.
When Gill’s health improved, he would show up in court for the subsequent hearing, according to Tariq, who claimed that Gill had asthma. The attorney asked the court to grant his request for an exemption from attendance until that time.
The court denied Gill’s appeal for exemption. A warrant for his arrest was issued. The warranty is subject to a deposit of Rs200,000.
