courT rEMAndS Sh rAShId In cuSTody For Two dAyS

Alocal court Thursday granted the police two-day physical remand of Awami Muslim League (AML) chief Sheikh Rashid Ahmed in a case registered against him for leveling “murder plot” allegations against former president Asif Ali Zardari.

The Awami Muslim League (AML) chief and former interior minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed, who is a close aide of PTI chief Imran Khan, was arrested from his Rawalpindi residence in the early hours of Thursday.

He was produced in the court of Judicial Magistrate Umar Shabbir where the police requested an eight-day physical remand of Sh Rashid. The Judicial Magistrate, however, rejected the police’s 8-day physical remand and remanded him in custody for two days.

During the course of proceedings, Sh Rashid told court that he has served as the federal minister at least 16 times, asking the court his handcuffs be removed.

After this, the court ordered police to unlock Rashid’s handcuffs.

Sardar Abdul Razik Khan and Intizar Panjhota, th counsels for Sh Rashid, presented their arguments.

The lawyer of the former interior minister Sardar Abdul Razik Khan began his arguments, saying that his client was arrested in a politically motivated case.

“The case against Rashid was registered at 8pm last night. The police had arrested Rashid against the high court’s orders,” he told court.

The prosecutor then told the court that Sheikh Rashid tried to create “threats” for the family members of Zardari by levelling allegations against his client.

Sheikh Rashid is booked under three sections — 120B (criminal conspiracy), 153A (promoting enmity between different groups), and 505 (statements conducing to public mischief).

The prosecutor asserted, “Sheikh Rashid is creating danger for Asif Zardari’s family. According to the sections, Sheikh Rashid can be sentenced to seven years in jail and be fined.”

He argued, “Sheikh Rashid gave the statement that Asif Ali Zardari has conspired to kill Imran Khan. In Pakistan, people can be ready to slit throats at the smallest things.

“Imran Khan has been attacked previously as well. There has been an attempt to create incitement between the parties of Imran Khan and Asif Zardari. Asif Zardari and his family’s life is at risk.” The prosecutor then requested a physical remand of the AML chief.

The judge then asked, “Has Asif Zardari