A court in Rawalpindi dismissed the Punjab police’s request for custody of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Thursday.
Instead, Qureshi has been sent to jail for a 14-day judicial remand in connection with a fresh case linked to the May 9 riots.
This decision follows Qureshi’s re-arrest outside Adiala Jail on Wednesday, where he was manhandled.
Presented before the court of Additional District and Sessions Judge Syed Jahangir Ali, Qureshi, in a video shared by PTI on social media, is seen escorted by police in handcuffs.
Following the hearing, another video shows Qureshi lifting his hands for a victory sign as he is taken away by the police, reportedly shouting slogans in support of Imran Khan.
During the hearing, Qureshi claimed to have been “mentally and physically tortured” in prison the previous night.
He expressed concern over the legality of his detention, stating that despite approval for his bail, he was detained under the Maintenance of Public Order.
Qureshi argued against being considered a threat to the public, emphasizing his lengthy incarceration.
He accused police officials of kicking and ridiculing him, alleging that he was not allowed to see a doctor despite experiencing chest pains.
The prosecutor sought a three-day physical remand, citing evidence against Qureshi from reports by the Federal Investigation Agency and Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority.
The prosecutor argued that Qureshi’s speech on May 9 had contributed to the GHQ attack and proposed investigating its effects during the remand.
In response, Qureshi’s lawyer requested his client’s discharge from the case and objected to Qureshi being brought to court in handcuffs.
He argued that there was minimal evidence against Qureshi and questioned the purpose of physical remand, suggesting it was a form of torture.
As emotions ran high, Qureshi, citing his contributions to Pakistan, questioned the justice in the proceedings.
The judge ordered the removal of Qureshi’s handcuffs, and Qureshi asserted, under the Holy Quran, that he was not in Rawalpindi or Punjab on May 9.
The court has reserved its verdict on the police’s plea for Qureshi’s 30-day physical remand.
