RAWALPINDI (Daily Point) — Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi asserted on Thursday that he endured both mental and physical torture, including exposure to harsh cold weather, during his time in jail.
Appearing before Duty Magistrate Syed Jahangir Ali in connection to the GHQ attack case, Qureshi insisted on having his statement recorded in the presence of his legal representatives.
The former foreign minister detailed his treatment in jail over the past several months, questioning the fairness of such conditions. He vehemently denied being present in Rawalpindi on May 9, asserting that he was in Karachi with his wife at Aga Khan Hospital, a claim he urged be verified through PEMRA records.
Qureshi, seeking relief, requested the magistrate to have his handcuffs removed, a request that was granted. He informed the court of his previous acquittal by three Supreme Court judges but expressed frustration at being arrested under MPO 3.
Recounting the events leading to his arrest, Qureshi highlighted the contradictory orders and described an alleged incident of physical assault by SHO Ashfaq while in custody. He claimed to have experienced chest pain and pleaded with the superintendent police for medical attention.
In the courtroom, the prosecution, represented by lawyer Akram Amin, sought a 30-day remand for Qureshi, citing reports from FIA, PEMRA, and intelligence agencies. The prosecution presented video statements and tweets from Qureshi as evidence, claiming that he had issued protest calls on social media during the riots following the arrest of PTI founder Imran Khan in a corruption case in May.
In response, Qureshi’s lawyer, Malik Imran, opposed the request, arguing that the FIR lacked specific allegations against his client. He noted the absence of FIR details in the entire challan.
After hearing arguments from both sides, the court reserved its verdict on the police’s plea for a 30-day remand of Qureshi in connection to the GHQ attack case related to the events of May 9.
