Pakistan Awami League chief Sheikh Rashid Ahmad will not appear in a district and sessions court of Islamabad today owing to his ailment, in a case pertaining to his allegations against Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari for plotting to assassinate PTI chief Imran Khan.

Sheikh Rashid has submitted an application in the court requesting for exemption to attend court. He said he was on bed rest. The medical report has also been attached with the application. 

Judicial Magistrate Umar Bashir resumed the hearing of the Zardari remarks case against Sheikh Rashid Ahmad and approved his application of exemption from appearance. The court has now fixed March 21 as the new date for Sheikh Rashid's indictment.

The district and sessions court was due to indict AML chief Sheikh Rashid today. The court had asked Sh Rashid Ahmad to ensure his attendance in the court.

In the last hearing, Islamabad Police had presented a challan against the AML chief in the court and Judicial Magistrate Umar Bashir fixed the date of March 2 for indictment.

During the hearing, Rashid requested the court to give a date of March 15 as he had to participate in a conference, to which the court replied that the orders of the high court had been issued and they could not prolong the matter.

“We will see when the trial starts,” stated Judicial Magistrate Bashir.

The judicial magistrate had also returned the AML chief’s request to register a case against SHO Aabpara Police Station Ashfaq Warraich, Inspector Ashiq Munwar, and other police personnel.

It was stated in the petition that the SHO threatened that he had “come to teach Rashid a lesson”.