ISLAMABAD: An Islamabad district and sessions court on Friday directed Islamabad police to shift PTI leader Shahbaz Gill to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) for another medical examination.
The court issued the directives as it suspended till Monday the handing over of Gill to police for the completion of his two-day physical remand, approved on Wednesday, and concluded that the remand time started today morning when the PTI leader was handed over to police from hospital authorities.
Gill, who has been arrested in connection with the FIR registered against him for allegedly inciting mutiny among armed forces, was produced before Judicial Magistrate Raja Farrukh Ali Khan earlier today.
He was taken to court in an ambulance from Pims, where he was shifted late on Wednesday night after he complained of breathing problems amid reports of him being subjected to torture while in police custody.
Footage from outside the courtroom showed officials crowding around Gill, who appeared to be having difficulty breathing, as he arrived in a wheelchair.
In a video shared by the PTI’s official Twitter account, Gill could be seen crying out for his “mask” while being taken to the courtroom. The tweet described the scene as “heartbreaking”.
In its order, the court contemplated whether the period of Gill’s two-day remand, which was approved on Wednesday, had lapsed.
The court observed that the investigating officer (IO) had sought permission from the Pims’ management to conduct an investigation at the facility, but his request was denied.
Had the IO’s request been accepted, “it could have been considered that the time of physical remand started from the point when the doctor granted permission for [the investigation],” the court order said.
It added that the time of the physical remand “would start when the custody of the accused would formally be given to the investigation officer for interrogation and recovery and by no stretch of the imagination the time spent by the accused in hospital can be considered as a time of physical remand”.
According to the court order, the formal custody of Gill was handed over to police at 7:15am today.
The court concluded that the remand time would start from the point when “hospital authorities, after going through medical investigations, declare the accused fit for facing physical remand and the same is missing in the instant case”.
Citing the claims of Gill’s lawyer regarding his unfit medical condition, the court observed a physical examination of the suspect at the court had found that he was wheezing and experiencing shortness of breath.
The court order also mentioned that an oxygen cylinder had also been provided to Gill in the courtroom upon his request.
Shahbaz Gill bursts into tears
Senior PTI leader Shahbaz Gill was shifted to an Islamabad district and sessions court from the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) at 7:30am on Friday under strict security arrangements for a hearing on the sedition case filed against him.
Gill came out of the rear gate of the medical facility on a wheelchair and had on an oxygen mask due to breathing issues. He was coughing in the ambulance. A doctor accompanied Gill to monitor his health.
Ahead of the start of formal proceedings, Gill’s counsel Faisal Chaudhry went to inquire after him as well. A video of Gill crying and saying he is unable to breathe when he was shifted out of the ambulance is being circulated by media outlets.
On reports of Gill’s mask being snatched, the correspondent said that due to overcrowding his mask was removed from his face. During the hearing, Gill appealed to the court for his mask to be given back.
“For God’s sake, give me back my mask,” he said. At this, the judge asked him if he intends to stay, to which Gill said he will if his mask is provided to him. Later, an oxygen cylinder was also brought to court for Gill.