Police raid Shahbaz Gill’s room in Parliament Lodges; recover weapons, satellite phone

Islamabad Police raided incarcerated PTI leader Shahbaz Gill's room in Parliament Lodges late Monday and it recovered weapons, satellite phone, and foreign currency.

According to details available with the media house, the raid was carried out under the supervision of a senior superintendent of police (SSP) and Gill accompanied them there with police officials in handcuffs.

A pistol was recovered during the operation; however, Gill refused to take ownership of the weapon.

Apart from weapons, a mobile phone, satellite phone and USBs have also been recovered from the room. Moreover, his wallet, that was missing, has also been recovered in which two of his CNICs were also found. Along with all these two passports were also recovered.

Gill told journalists that he had no clue as to why is wallet was found in the room, claiming that he had left it in the car when he was taken into custody.

“My wallet was usually carried by my driver and the room from where the pistol has been recovered was in use of my guards,” he said.

Replying to the questions of the journalists, Gill confirmed PTI chief Imran Khan's claims regarding being sexually assaulted in police custody.

"Yes, I was sexually abused," said Gill in response to the question.

“I see some changes in my room, my passport wasn’t found at its usual place…this hints that somebody came here during the period of my custody,” he added.

Police then whisked Gill to the Punjab House. They also searched the room used by Shahbaz Gill there. But, they found none of his belongings there, said police sources.

Police said Gill's belongings had already been shifted to the Parliament lodges. Police also said a case of the pistol recovered from Gill's Parliament Lodges room is being registered at the Secretariat police station.

A red-coloured diary was also found in Shahbaz Gill's room. When the SSP asked him about it, Gill said he didn't know it. "It's not mine," said Gill.

The police official also asked Gill about the names of people who lived in the room. Izhar and Jabir lived here, he answered.

Sources said Gill's Parliament lodges room is allotted to Senator Abdul Qadir.

According to sources, the police raided the room to recover the script read by Gill on the private TV channel.

Earlier on Monday, a district and sessions court in Islamabad granted a two-day physical remand of Gill in a sedition case filed against him, after reviewing his medical report.

Imran Khan's chief of staff was presented before the court earlier shortly after being discharged from the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS).

Gill was taken into custody on August 9 from Banigala Chowk over charges of inciting mutiny among public against the ranks and files of Pakistan Army by making some remarks during a TV programme.

source https://www.suchtv.pk/pakistan/general/item/115365-police-raid-shahbaz-gill-s-room-in-parliament-lodges-recover-weapons-satellite-phone.html

IHC initiates hearing on contempt case against Imran Khan for threatening judge

A larger bench of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) has taken up contempt of court proceedings against PTI Chairman Imran Khan for threatening Additional Sessions Judge Zeba Chaudhry during a public rally.

The bench comprises Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani, Justice Babar Sattar and Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb.

The PTI chair had staged a rally in the federal capital on August 20 to express solidarity with his chief of staff Shahbaz Gill after claims of torture in custody. He warned the Islamabad inspector-general and deputy inspector-general that he would “not spare” them, vowing to file cases against them for subjecting Gill to alleged inhuman torture.

Turning his guns towards the additional sessions judge, who sent Gill into physical remand on the police's request, Imran Khan had then said she [the judge] should brace herself for consequences.

This issue could be a threat for Khan, who has been campaigning for new elections since being forced to step down this year, since a conviction would disqualify him from standing for election, legal experts said.

The contempt issue is in addition to charges under an anti-terror law that police filed against Khan over what they said was a threat in his speech about Shahbaz Gill who faces sedition charges for inciting mutiny in the military.

The use of anti-terrorism laws as the grounds for cases against political leaders is not uncommon in Pakistan, where Khan’s government also used them against opponents and critics.

His political party, the PTI, has dismissed the accusations against Khan as being politically motivated, saying they were being used to block him from leading anti-government rallies.

Earlier today, Islamabad Advocate-General Jahangir Khan Jadoon filed a miscellaneous application in the IHC, seeking permission to submit the concerned record to court.

In his application, the advocate-general pleaded to the court that he wanted to submit the record of anti-judiciary remarks and speeches made by Imran Khan in the past.

“I want to put Imran Khan’s video clip on record,” said the applicant.

He pleaded with the court to allow the petitioner to play the video showing the anti-judiciary and anti-state institution remarks made by the PTI chairman in the past.

The applicant requested the IHC to allow the material to be played in the courtroom through USB or other digital means.

source https://www.suchtv.pk/pakistan/general/item/115362-ihc-initiates-hearing-on-contempt-case-against-imran-khan-for-threatening-judge.html

PM Shehbaz leaves for Doha on two-day official visit

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has left for Doha on a two day official visit to Qatar on the invitation of Amir of state of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.

This is the Prime Minister's first visit to Qatar after assuming the office.

The Prime Minister is accompanied by a high level delegation including key members of the cabinet.

During the visit, Shehbaz Sharif will hold in-depth consultations with the Qatari leadership. The two sides will review the entire spectrum of bilateral relations with a particular focus on advancing energy related cooperation, deepening trade and investment ties and exploring greater employment opportunities for Pakistanis in Qatar.

They will also exchange views on a range of regional and international issues of mutual interest.

The Prime Minister will also engage with leading Qatari and Pakistani business leaders, investors and entrepreneurs.

He will visit Stadium 974 in Doha, where he would be briefed on the extensive preparations undertaken by Qatari government to host FIFA World Cup.

source https://www.suchtv.pk/pakistan/general/item/115358-pm-shehbaz-leaves-for-doha-on-two-day-official-visit.html

Islamabad court grants two-day physical remand of Shahbaz Gill in sedition case

A district and sessions court in Islamabad has reserved its verdict on a plea seeking an extension in senior PTI leader Shahbaz Gill's remand in a sedition case filed against him, after reviewing his medical report on Monday.

PTI Chairman Imran Khan's chief of staff, Gill was presented before the court earlier shortly after being discharged from the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) today.

The court's decision on whether to extend Gill's physical remand over the police's plea or not expected shortly. The police had requested an extension of eight days in Gill's physical remand at the last hearing of the case on Friday.

Gill was taken into custody on August 9 from Banigala Chowk over charges of inciting mutiny among public against the ranks and files of Pakistan Army by making some remarks during a TV programme.

The PTI contends that its leader was "tortured" while in incarceration and was not medically fit to be sent into physical remand while the police insist on him being given into its custody for further investigation.

The court had deemed the condition of Gill "not okay" and ordered to keep him at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) for a reassessment of his health till today.

Upon resumption of the hearing, the court inquired about the order of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) over PTI's plea against an extension in Gill's physical remand.

"Where is IHC's order? I will decide after looking at it," the judge said.

At this, Gill's lawyer informed the court that the high court has reserved its verdict today. He requested the court to adjourn the hearing till 2pm to wait for the IHC verdict.

After this, the court directed the police to take Gill from court and adjourned the hearing till 1:30pm.

Ahead of the resumption of the hearing, sources said that Gill was complaining about chest pain but that he was discharged from PIMS hospital.

They quoted doctors as saying that Gill is completely fine and he doesn't have breathing issues either.

It may be noted that Gill had been complaining of having breathing issues and has undergone several medical tests and multiple examinations.

Later, the police left for the court with Shahbaz Gill in a car with tinted glass.

Meanwhile, irrelevant people were barred from entering the courtroom.

source https://www.suchtv.pk/pakistan/general/item/115348-islamabad-court-grants-two-day-physical-remand-of-shahbaz-gill-in-sedition-case.html

Imran moves IHC for pre-arrest bail following terrorism charges

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan on Monday has filed an application for a pre-arrest bail in the Islamabad High Court (IHC) after he was charged with terrorism for threatening an additional sessions court judge.

The pre-arrest bail application, filed by lawyers Babar Awan and Faisal Chaudhry, maintained that Imran had no past criminal record.

It requested that the high court approve the application, and stated that the former premier was ready for any investigation involved in the case.

Contrariwise, according to sources at the registrar's office, the RO raised three objections to Imran Khan's application for protective bail. The office claimed that Imran did not get his biometrics done, came to the high court instead of approaching an anti-terrorism court, and that a certified copy of the terrorism case against him was not provided to the office.

On Sunday, deposed prime minister Imran Khan was booked in a terrorism case on the complaint of Islamabad Saddar Magistrate Ali Javed for threatening the additional sessions judge of the federal capital, Zeba Chaudhry.

The first information report (FIR) was lodged with the Margalla police station at 10 pm, following a speech of Imran Khan at the PTI rally in F9 Park a day earlier. The FIR also carries Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act.

The FIR was lodged hours before another Islamabad police station received a written complaint from a resident of G-11/2 for lodging a case against Imran over making hate-speeches, and inciting rebellion against the army, police and judiciary.

The FIR lodged by the Margalla police said that the PTI chief threatened the additional sessions judge of Islamabad with a view to terrorise the high officials of the police and the judiciary, so that they could not fulfil their duties and refrain from taking action against the former ruling party due to fear of Imran.

source https://www.suchtv.pk/pakistan/general/item/115331-imran-moves-ihc-for-pre-arrest-bail-following-terrorism-charges.html

Warner to restart Big Bash League career with Sydney Thunder

Big-hitting Austra­lian batsman David Warner Sunday signed a two-year deal with Sydney Thunder, ending a nine-year absence from the Big Bash League.

The 35-year-old opener has not played in the domestic Twenty20 competition since 2013 and said he wanted to get involved again to help support the next generation.

“I’m really excited to get back to the Big Bash with the club where I started,” said Warner, a veteran of 96 Tests, 133 ODIs and 91 T20 games for Australia.

“I care deeply about the game, and I am conscious that the conditions that I enjoy as a professional cricketer have largely come from other senior players who have come before me.

“That is how the game is structured and I understand that my contribution to the future of the BBL will hopefully benefit the next generation of players long after I am retired.”

Warner has not represented Thunder since the third BBL season, where he played just one game. He also played a single game for them in the inaugural season, and has appeared once for the Sydney Sixers.

He will join the team after his international commitments end in January and could be available for as many as five regular season matches.

“The club has a tremendous group of young talented batters and leaders, with the likes of Jason Sangha, Ollie Davies, Matt Gilkes and Baxter Holt,” said Thunder head coach Trevor Bayliss.

“They will all benefit greatly from Davey’s experience and guidance.”

The BBL season starts on Dec 13 when Thunder face the Melbourne Stars.

source https://www.suchtv.pk/sports/item/115330-warner-to-restart-big-bash-league-career-with-sydney-thunder.html

Shells rain down on city near Ukraine’s N- plant

Artillery shells rained down on a city close to Europe’s biggest nuclear plant on Saturday night and Russian missiles hit targets near Odesa, a Ukrainian Black Sea port and a grain export hub, as the war headed for its six-month milestone on Aug 24.

The day will also mark 31 years of Ukraine’s independence from Soviet rule and President Volodymyr Zele­nskiy in a nightly video address called for vigilance, saying Moscow could try “something particularly ugly”.

As Ukraine prepared to mark its independence day embroiled in a war that has flattened towns and cities, killed thousands and forced millions to flee, military and regional officials reported more Russian strikes on targets in the east and south of the country.

Of particular concern was the shelling of Nikopol, a city which lies across the Dnipro river from Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine’s and Europe’s biggest nuclear plant. It has been held by Russian forces since March.

Nikopol was shelled on five different occasions overnight, regional governor Valentyn Reznichenko wrote on Telegram. He said 25 artillery shells hit the city, causing a fire at an industrial premises and cutting power to 3,000 residents.

The fighting in the proximity of Zaporizhzia and Saturday’s missile strike on the southern Ukrainian town of Voznesensk, which is not far from Ukraine’s second-largest atomic plant, has spurred fears of a nuclear accident.

Cruise missile strikes

Local authorities also reported overnight missile attacks in the Odesa region, home to Black Sea ports critical to a U.N.-brokered plan to help Ukrainian agricultural exports, key for global food supplies, reach world markets again.

Five Russian Kalibr cruise missiles were fired from the Black Sea at the region overnight, the regional administration spokesperson said, citing information from the southern military command. Two were shot down by Ukrainian air defences while three hit agricultural targets, but there were no casualties.

Russia said on Sunday the missiles had destroyed an ammunition depot containing missiles for U.S.-made HIMARS rockets, while Kyiv said a granary had been hit.

There were no fresh reports of incidents in Crimea, the Black Sea peninsula Russia annexed from Ukraine in 2014, after a series of explosions made headlines in recent weeks.

In his speech, Zelenskiy referred obliquely to the blasts, for which Ukraine has not claimed responsibility, but analysts have said at least some have been made possible by new equipment used by its forces.

“You can literally feel Crimea in the air this year, that the occupation there is only temporary and that Ukraine is coming back,” Zelenskiy said.

In the latest incident, a drone attack on the headquarters of Russia’s Black Sea fleet was thwarted on Saturday morning, according to a Telegram post by Mikhail Razvozhayev, Crimea’s Russian-appointed governor, who is not recognised by the West.

In a daily Facebook update, Ukraine’s general staff also reported several attempted Russian assaults over the past 24 hours in Donbas, the eastern region partially controlled by pro-Moscow separatists that has been a key target of Russia’s campaign in the past months.

In the south, Russian forces conducted a successful assault on the village of Blahodatne on the border between Kherson and Mykolaiv regions, it said.

The city of Mykolaiv was hit with multiple S-300 missiles early on Sunday, regional governor Vitaliy Kim said on Telegram.

source https://www.suchtv.pk/world/item/115329-shells-rain-down-on-city-near-ukraine-s-n-plant.html