ISLAMABAD: The District and Sessions Court in the Federal Capital has rejected the bail request of Sheikh Rashid in connection to allegations that he was involved in the assassination of former President Asif Ali Zardari and the murder of Imran Khan.
Judge Omar Bashir of the Sessions Court in Islamabad passed a reserved verdict and denied granting bail to Rashid.
Earlier, the court heard arguments from both the prosecutor and the counsel for Sheikh Rashid.
Arguments of Rashid’s Counsel
Sardar Abdul Raziq, the counsel for Sheikh Rashid, stated that the prosecution’s allegations that Rashid attempted to escape were equivalent to a joke.
He stated that Rashid’s legal team was unable to meet with him after waiting for three hours.
The lawyer argued that there was no need for further investigation and requested the court to grant bail, citing the fact that the High Court had also discouraged the FIA from taking further action.
The counsel argued that the police did not find any evidence during Rashid’s physical remand and that the case against him was politically motivated.
Abdul Raziq claimed that the police raided Rashid’s house late at night and seized 7 lacs in cash and precious gifts.
He stated that more than 150 police officers entered the house.
The court asked the counsel to present arguments regarding the portion of the FIR that described Sheikh Rashid as part of a conspiracy against Asif Ali Zardari.
The lawyer stated that Sheikh Rashid referred to a statement made by Imran Khan, in which he claimed to have evidence that Zardari was involved in a plot to assassinate him.
He claimed that the FIR was registered against Rashid before the program in which he made statements against Zardari.
Mr. Raziq stated that Imran Khan’s statement was based on facts and added that there was no complaint filed regarding the plot to assassinate him, but instead a case had been filed for defaming Asif Ali Zardari.
“The common man accused Sheikh Rashid, who is a worker of PPP, while Asif Ali Zardari did not make any claims of defamation.”
Arguments of Plaintiff’s Counsel
The statement by Sheikh Rashid is based on spreading provocation. In the 1990s, Sheikh Rashid was booked in a Kalashnikov case and after being found guilty, he became uncontrollable.
The counsel claimed that granting bail to Sheikh Rashid would result in him inciting the people and therefore his bail should not be granted.
The prosecutor stated that Rashid’s behavior during detention was unusual and that as someone who had held a ministerial position 16 times, his statement could incite the society.
Sheikh Rashid stated that his opponents were enlisting the services of terrorists to kill Imran Khan.
After hearing the arguments, the court reserved its verdict and announced it several hours later, rejecting the request made by Rashid’s counsel.
Case Against Sheikh Rashid
Meanwhile, Sheikh Rashid was booked in an FIR regarding the statement he made against Asif Ali Zardari, in which he alleged the latter’s involvement in plotting the assassination of Imran Khan.
According to the FIR, “Sheikh Rashid is deemed a danger to Asif Ali Zardari and his family. He made a claim on a TV channel that Zardari has hired the services of terrorists.”
The statement made by Sheikh Rashid is believed to be part of a pre-planned conspiracy.
“The First Information Report (FIR) against Rashid includes sections 120B (Punishment for Criminal Conspiracy), 153A (Promoting enmity between different groups), and 505 (Statements conducing to public mischief) of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC).”
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