Islamabad (Web Desk): A district and sessions court in Islamabad on Friday deferred the indictment of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Shahbaz Gill in a sedition case.
During the hearing today, Prosecutor Rizwan Abbasi and Gill’s lawyer Burhan Muazzam as well as Yousaf's counsel appeared before the court of Additional District and Sessions Judge Tahir Abbas Supra.
Yousaf’s counsel told the court that his client was suffering from malaria and had therefore failed to appear before the court today. He then submitted a request seeking an exemption from an in-person appearance along with Yousaf’s medical report.
The judge remarked, “It seems as if you have taken turns," referring to Gill's arrival from Lahore in an ambulance and Yousaf's failure to show up to court.
Meanwhile, Shehbaz Gill arrived in the court in an ambulance as court had issued a bailable arrest warrant for the PTI leader.
His lawyer told the court that Gill was present in an ambulance outside the court, adding that the PTI leader could not move because of the oxygen mask.
The court remarked that it looked like the suspects were trying to buy time.
Gill's lawyer said that the court had issued arrest warrants for a sick man. The court marked attendance of Shehbaz Gill while he remained in the ambulance.
Subsequently, the court issued a bailable arrest warrant for Yousaf against a surety bond worth Rs50,000 and postponed the process of indicting Gill, and adjourned the hearing till January 20.
The court also instructed the lawyers to ensure Gill and Yousaf’s presence at the next hearing.
Gill was arrested in Islamabad on August 9 after a sedition case was filed against him for inciting mutiny within the Pakistan Army through his remarks during a private TV channel show.
The PTI leader 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.