Court to indict Shehbaz Gill, Ammad Yousuf in sedition case on Nov 22

ISLAMABAD: Islamabad’s Sessions Court Saturday, while hearing the case of inciting mutiny within institutions, fixed November 22 as the date to indict PTI leader Shahbaz Gill and Ammad Yousuf and provided them with copies of the police challan.

Gill and Ammad Yousuf have been facing sedition charges for inciting mutiny within the Pakistan Army following the former’s remarks during a private TV channel’s show. The PTI leader is currently on bail.

Additional Sessions Judge Tahir Abbas Sipra heard the case, while Gill and Yousuf appeared in the court as suspects and registered their attendance. The Investigation Officer informed the court that the police do not have any concrete evidence against Salman Iqbal; therefore, the challans are complete as far as the two suspects are concerned.

Gill’s counsel Muhammad Ali Bukhari said that all the accusations are related to the same programme. Some of the suspects in this case are on bail, while one has died. According to law, proceedings will not progress unless the report is not completed.

Public prosecutor Raja Rizwan Abbasi stated that there is no concrete evidence or anything on record against other suspects in the case except for Gill and Ammad Yousuf. “We want to proceed on this case,” he said during the hearing.

The judge maintained that the objection can be raised after copies of the reference are received; whether a challan is complete or not, the court has to proceed with the trial.

Yousuf submitted a petition for permanent exemption from appearing in court, following which he was issued notices. The prosecutor said that there is no objection to granting a permanent exemption after framing the charge against the suspects.