The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Friday barred the government from arresting former interior minister Sheikh Rashid in connection with his participation in the PTI’s long march, reported 24NewsHD TV channel. 

During the hearing of the petition filed by Rashid against the registration of cases against him, IHC Chief Justice (CJ) Justice Athar Minallah also ordered the secretary interior to present in the court details of the cases registered against the former interior minister. 

Sheikh Rashid appeared in the court along with his lawyer. 

Speaking on the occasion, his lawyer told the court that after he obtained bails for his client in four cases, he came to know that he had been booked in yet another case. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yfuib_cXfC0

When Justice Minallah asked whether Rashid had been de-notified as a member of the National Assembly (MNA), Rashid replied in negative, saying he was still an MNA. “Despite court orders, the new government registers cases against me every other day,” he said, and added, “These people are so shameless that they don’t even feel shy from raiding their opponents’ sisters’ homes.”  

IHC CJ remarked that Ali Wazir of Pashtun Tahaffuz Movement was also people’s representative and was also detained. 

However, he said it was not appropriate to treat people’s representatives like this.   

Sheikh Rashid says new government’s time is up

Later speaking to the media outside the Islamabad High Court (IHC), Sheikh Rashid said that he did not see the coalition anywhere in the picture in June while the people would be out on roads protesting against massive inflation.

He said that Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah was implicating him and PTI leaders in false and fabricated cases. 

Rashid was of the opinion that if there was a ‘misunderstanding’ between the PTI and Pakistan Army, the former should make effort to remove them. “Whosoever sent the threatening letter for former prime minister Imran Khan, had actually done him a great service,” he said, adding, “Now this government should bear the consequences of inflation. The new setup cannot stay for long. They have to go now.”      

Reporter: Ehtesham Kiyani