AML chief Sheikh Rashid sent on 14-day judicial remand

ISLAMABAD – A district and sessions court in Islamabad sent Awami Muslim League (AML) chief Sheikh Rashid on judicial remand for 14 days.

Rashid, a close aide of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PIT) Chairman Imran Khan, is facing serious charges as he levelled allegations against Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari for plotting to assassinate Khan.

PPP Rawalpindi Division President Raja Inayat Ur Rehman had filed a case against Rashid at Islamabad's Aabpara Police Station.

Islamabad Police presented the AML chief in the court of Judicial Magistrate Umar Shabbir amid strict security.

The ex-interior minister is also facing charges in Muree and Karachi. A case has been lodged against him in Muree for threatening police personnel, while he has been named in two separate FIRs for passing “offensive” and “filthy” comments against Foreign Minister and PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari.

At the outset of the hearing, the police sought a five-day extension in Rashid’s physical remand.

The investigation officer informed the court that voice-matching tests had been done and the photogrammetry test was left.

Meanwhile, Rashid maintained: “It’d be better I be sentenced to death the way police have kept [me]”.

He complained that the police kept him blindfolded and tied to a chair for hours.

The politician pleaded to the court to order the authorities to take him to a hospital to bandage his injuries and grant him Rangers’ security.

At this, the court ordered to uncuff Rashid.