Shah Mahmood sent to 14-day judicial remand to Adiala Jail for May 9 cases

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi was sent on a 14-day judicial remand to Adiala Jail after being arrested a day ago from same Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail in relation to May 9 incidents.

Today, Shah Mahmood Qureshi was brought to the court of Duty Magistrate Syed Jahangir Ali, where Police was seeking 30-days physical remand in May 9 cases including the one related to the attack on GHQ. The prosecutor argued that remand in cases with terrorism provisions allow a remand for even 90 days.

The prosecutor sought permission for investigation in all 12 cases including an attack on the GHQ, an army museum and the office of an intelligence agency.

The Duty Magistrate Syed Jahangir Ali at the Judicial Complex Rawalpindi announced the reserved verdict and directed the police to transfer the veteran politician for a 14-day judicial remand to the Adiala Jail.

In the hearing today, The PTI vice chairman requested to the judge for recording his statement in the presence of his counsels.

Qureshi in his statement said that the SC had granted him bail but before he could obtain his release order, it emerged that he was to be detained under 3 MPO.

“How am I a threat to the public? I have been in jail for several months,” Qureshi said. He added that he had been told in Adiala Jail that the MPO orders against him would be withdrawn but the date was later extended to Dec 27 instead of Dec 26.

Qureshi said he had been detained from inside Adiala Jail illegally, highlighting that he had been a member of the Parliament five times. The PTI leader further stated that police officials had kicked and ridiculed him, claiming that he wasn’t taken to a doctor despite chest pains.

Qureshi said he was kept in a cold cell overnight, with only a candle for illumination and was not allowed to sleep. “I was tortured physically and mentally.”

Shah Mahmood requested the duty magistrate to get his handcuffs unlocked, upon which the judge directed the police to remove the handcuffs.

Qureshi said he would swear on the Holy Quran that he was not present in Rawalpindi on May 9 and instead, he was in Karachi that day.