Adiala jail handover Shahbaz Gill to Islamabad Police after hours-long drama

• Gill's custody has been given to Islamabad Police as per the directions of court.
• Sources say he will be shifted to police station after the medical examination at PIMS.
• "Pakistan is facing worst fascism, workers should be prepared for all kinds of situations,” Fawad says.

Following a heated standoff between Islamabad and Rawalpindi polices over the custody of Shahbaz Gill, the Adiala jail authorities handed over the custody of the PTI leader to the former, Geo News reported Wednesday.

Islamabad Police has left the jail with Gill as Punjab Police personnel returned back after hours-long drama outside the jail premises. It was further learnt that Gill will be first taken to PIMS for a medical checkup.

Gill's custody has been given to Islamabad Police according to the directions of the court. Sources in the police said that he will be shifted to a police station after the medical examination.

Earlier, sources, citing a document titled ‘Emergency Shifting’ available with Geo News, said that after Gill's checkup the doctors of the Adiala jail and the authorities concerned were directed to shift the PTI leader to DHQ Hospital Rawalpindi.

Following the directions, Islamabad Police and Rawalpindi Police had reached the Adiala jail to shift Gill; however, he refused to go with the former. This led to hours-long drama between the two law enforcement agencies.

HRCP expresses concern

Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) also expressed concern at the decision taken by the court to send Gill to physical remand.

“Any allegations that he was mistreated while on remand should also be investigated fairly and transparently,” the commission wrote on Twitter.

Federal, Punjab govts at loggerheads 

The Rawalpindi Police was adamant about shifting Gill to DHQ Hospital while Islamabad Police insisted on transferring the PTI leader to the federal capital as per court orders. Following the argument, additional personnel of Islamabad Police were called to the jail.

According to sources in jail, it was learnt that Gill had complained of difficulty in breathing and ill health due to alleged torture after which he was shifted to the jail hospital for a checkup.

Meanwhile, the sources had said that PTI Chairperson Imran Khan had ordered Gill to create an emergency-like situation so that he could be transferred to the hospital.

Jail officials said that prisoners of Adiala jail undergo checkups in DHQ Hospital as the medical team from Islamabad cannot check prisoners of Adiala jail.

Meanwhile, after reports of the worsening situation, the Ministry of Interior had also summoned Rangers and FC to execute the court orders. 

Fawad Chaudhry asks workers to gear up

Terming the developments as “abduction”, former information minister Fawad Chaudhry said that getting a certificate from the board of their choice is not according to the laws.

“Pakistan is currently facing the worst fascism, workers should be prepared for all kinds of situations,” he wrote on Twitter.

Following the development, the PTI — on its official Twitter handle — shared the video of Gill being transferred to PIMS in an ambulance with an oxygen mask.

“Pakistan is undergoing the worst kind of fascism,” it captioned the video.

Marriyum accuses Imran Khan of violating laws

Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb accused PTI Chairman Imran Khan of blatantly violating court orders and putting undue pressure on the bureaucracy of Punjab over Shahbaz Gill’s custody.

Speaking to journalists, the information minister said the PTI chairman has disregarded all laws and the party is using every tactic to protect Gill from the investigation.

Islamabad Police rejects all allegations

Rejecting all allegations levelled against Islamabad Police, the spokesperson said that Gill was not subjected to any kind of violence during physical remand.

The spokesperson further added that Gill underwent regular medical checkups, on the directions of the court and judges, which proves he wasn’t tortured.

The spokesperson further added the orders of the court have been given to the jail administration and the Islamabad Police has completed all legal requirements.

He further added that the authorities will adhere to the orders of the court and expects the jail administration to cooperate.

The spokesperson further added that the head of the investigation team and senior superintendent of police will personally monitor the entire process.

‘Marriyum tasked to spread propaganda’: Farrukh Habib

Reacting to allegations levelled by the information minister, PTI leader Farrukh Habib claimed that Marriyum has been tasked to spread misleading propaganda.

“She should first comment on her party leaders who are currently summoned by the courts,” he said, adding that it is Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and his son Hamza Shahbaz who have been violating the court orders.

Recalling that both the PML-N leaders were “imposed” on the country the day of their indictment, he questioned: “Was this observance of the law?”

He went on to accuse of them violating laws by mentioning that PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif lied to leave the country.

“Khan has never encouraged violation of laws,” the PTI leader said, adding that it is their plan to force Gill to give a statement against Khan by torturing him.

Court orders handover of Gill to police for 48 hours

Earlier today, an Islamabad district and sessions court remanded the PTI leader in police custody for 48 hours in its verdict on a review plea seeking Gill's physical remand in a sedition case. 

The court had reserved its verdict earlier in the day after the completion of arguments by all parties.

Imran Khan expresses concern about party leader

The PTI chairman had condemned the sessions court's decision, saying that he is concerned about Gill being sent into police custody once more.

"Gill is in a fragile state of mental and physical health because of the torture inflicted upon him when he was abducted and taken to an undisclosed location," Imran wrote on Twitter.

The case

Gill was arrested last Tuesday afternoon from Banigala Chowk in the capital a day after making controversial remarks on a private TV channel. He was subsequently booked on charges of sedition and inciting members of state institutions against the Pakistan Army.

A treason case was registered against him at the Kohsar Police Station under several sections of the Pakistan Penal Code, including 124-A (sedition), 131 (abetting mutiny, or attempting to seduce a soldier, sailor or airman from his duty), 153 (wantonly giving provocation with intent to cause riot if rioting be committed; if not committed), 153-A (promoting enmity between different groups, etc), and 505 (statements conducing to public mischief), 506 (punishment for criminal intimidation), among others.