Rashid Shafiq claims ‘Sheikh Rasheed kept in death cell’

The nephew of Awami Muslim League (AML) chief Sheikh Rasheed, Rashid Shafiq claimed on Tuesday that his uncle was kept in the death cell of the jail and no one is being allowed to meet him, ARY News reported.

While talking to ARY News, Sheikh Rashid Shafiq said that he has recently met Sheikh Rasheed in jail. He alleged that his uncle was not given meals by the jail officials. He added that Sheikh Rasheed is suffering fever but medicines are not being provided.

“Sheikh Rasheed is kept in the death cell and no one is being allowed to meet him. My uncle is sleeping on the floor and no arrangements are made by the jail officials to protect him from the cold weather.”

READ: IHC SUMMONS SHO WITH RECORD IN SHEIKH RASHEED ARREST CASE

Earlier in the day, a local court in Islamabad rejected AML chief and former interior minister Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed’s post-arrest bail plea in a case related to levelling allegations against former president Asif Ali Zardari.

Judicial Magistrate Umer Shabbir pronounced the verdict which he reserved earlier today.

During today’s hearing, Rasheed’s counsel maintained that his client only quoted the former premier, who is facing life threats. “Sheikh Rasheed did not hurl accusations against Zardari but he only quoted Imran Khan.” He also raised questions about swift action against the former interior minister.

READ: SHEIKH RASHEED: IHC SUSPENDS FIRS REGISTERED IN MOCHKO, LASBELA

Rasheed’s counsel maintained that investigators have not found anything suspicious during the physical remand of Rasheed.

However, the court in its verdict allowed the AML chief to sign his nomination papers for the NA-60 and NA-62 by-polls.

Rasheed, who is a close aide of PTI chairman Imran Khan, is currently on a 14-day judicial remand.

The FIR

The Awami Muslim League (AML) chief was arrested from his Rawalpindi residence in the early hours of last Thursday and is currently on two-physical remand in a case of levelling allegations of setting a ‘murder plot’ for Imran Khan against Asif Ali Zardari.

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

In the FIR, the PPP divisional president stated that the AML chief tried to badmouth a former president and cause a “permanent danger” to the PPP co-chairman and his family.

With his provocatory allegations, the FIR added that Rasheed wants to cause a fight between the PTI and the PPP and disrupt the country’s peace.

The PPP leader added that the AML chief claimed to have vital information regarding a “conspiracy” being hatched to assassinate the PTI chief.