Islamabad court to indict Shahbaz Gill in sedition case on Feb 27

ISLAMABAD: A local court in the federal capital has decided to indict Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's (PTI) senior leader Shahbaz Gill on February 27 as it rejected his plea for acquittal from the sedition case filed against him.

The politician is facing charges of allegedly attempting to incite mutiny among the ranks of the Pakistan Army during a TV programme in August 2022.

Additional Sessions Judge Tahir Sipra Saturday announced the decision to formally frame charges against PTI Chairman Imran Khan's former chief of staff. 

Gill was taken into custody on August 9 from Banigala Chowk over charges of inciting mutiny. He was booked in a sedition and arms recovery case in August and stayed in detention for over a month. He, however, secured bail from the IHC in the sedition case on September 15 after repeatedly attempting to get released.

The case against Gill is registered at Kohsar Police Station under Sections 34 (common intention), 109 (abetment), 120 (concealing design to commit offence punishable with imprisonment), 121 (waging war against state), 124-A (sedition), 131 (abetting mutiny, or attempt to seduce a soldier, sailor or airman from his duty), 153 (provoking to cause riot), 505 (statement conducing to public mischief) and 506 (punishment for criminal intimidation) of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC).

The PTI had insisted on demanding the party leader's bail, alleging that he was facing humiliation, torture and sexual abuse in police custody.