LHC Rawalpindi bench Justice Sadaqat Ali Khan directs authorities to produce Sheikh Rashid Ahmed within seven days

RAWALPINDI: Oct 2, (SABAH): The Lahore High Court’s (LHC) Rawalpindi bench on Monday directed authorities to produce former interior minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed ‘within a week’.

During the hearing last week, the LHC had given Rawalpindi police a “last chance” to recover the Awami Muslim League (AML) chief.

The hearing on Monday was presided over by Justice Sadaqat Ali Khan and Sheikh Rashid’s counsel and Regional Police Officer (RPO) Syed Khurram Ali were present. The police officer also submitted an investigation report in court.

Rejecting the report, the court ordered the RPO to recover the PTI ally within a week or else a case would be registered against all officers involved.

“You have crossed your limit. A case will be registered against the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Operations, the Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) and four Station House Officers (SHOs) responsible for Rashid’s arrest,” said the judge.

Judge Sadaqat also sought affidavits from Sheikh Rashid’s lawyers regarding his arrest. The counsel claimed that there is video evidence of their client being arrested from his house and then being transferred to an intelligence office located in the area of Golra Sharif. The LHC also sought videos of Sheikh Rashid’s transfer to the intelligence office.

The judge asked the RPO that where were former minister and two other persons who were with him? “Will you produce Ahmed or submit written reply before the court,” the judge asked the RPO?

The RPO sought 15 more days. Following the RPO’s request, the court said 15 days were too much as it’s not a common case, even two days are too much.

Justice Sadaqat Ali said that following the request of the lawyer, Sardar Abdul Razzaq, he would give another seven days. The court said if Ahmed would not be produced within a week, the court would order an FIR.  The court adjourned the case hearing for a week.

On the other hand, Rashid’s nephew Sheikh Shakir and employee Sheikh Imran, who were arrested along with him, have been released.

Last week, LHC had expressed its displeasure over the detention of the former interior minister and had given authorities a “last chance” to recover the PTI ally by October 2. “In failing to do so, strict action will be taken against the force.”

Justice Sadaqat, from the Rawalpindi bench of LHC, had reprimanded the RPO for failing to recover the veteran politician.

Sheikh Rashid was at his home in a private housing society on the outskirts of Islamabad on Sept 17 when purported Rawalpindi Police personnel and some officials in plain clothes, raided the residence and detained him and three others. However, in a statement issued later that night, a spokesperson of the Rawalpindi Police denied the arrest and claimed Rashid was not in their custody. He has been missing since.