A second FIR has been filed against Sheikh Rashid.
He is charged with threatening cops of serious consequences.
Minister is in police custody for serious allegations against Zardari.
Another case has been filed against former interior minister Sheikh Rashid at a police station in Murree for interfering in official affairs, Geo News reported.
The former minister, who is an ally of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan, was arrested in the early hours of Thursday [February 2] from Murree Motorway. The arrest sparked criticism from the former premier, Imran Khan.
The first information report (FIR) was lodged at the complaint of investigation officer Ashiq Ali, from the Aabpara police station, Islamabad. Sheikh Rashid threatened the police personnel and stated that he would not spare them, according to the FIR.
The FIR was registered under Section 154 of the Criminal Procedure Code of Pakistan, charging Sheikh Rashid with interfering in official affairs and resisting his arrest. The FIR states that the former minister physically pushed and abused the police officers and threatened them with serious consequences at gunpoint.
Besides the former minister, his two employees have also been implicated in the case.
The FIR states that when the police arrived at Sheikh Rashid’s residence, he came out with his armed servants and resisted police efforts while threatening them. He was told that he was booked under three sections of the Pakistan Penal Code — 120B (criminal conspiracy), 153A (promoting enmity between different groups), and 505 (statements conducing to public mischief), read the FIR.
After that, he started resisting and interfering in the official affairs of the police, while threatening them with serious consequences at gunpoint.
Abusing the policemen, Sheikh Rashid said he had been a minister several times and that he would not spare them, read the FIR. Hence, he committed an offence under Section 506ii (threatening to cause death or grievous hurt], 353 [Assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty] and 186 [Obstructing public servant in discharge of public functions].
The arrest
The police claimed to arrest Rashid from Murree Road in the wee hours of Thursday. However, the former interior minister and his nephew, Sheikh Rashid Shafiq, contradicted the police’s version and said that the authorities took him into custody from his house in Rawalpindi and not the motorway.
Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Rawalpindi Division President Raja Inayat Ur Rehman had filed a case against Rashid in Islamabad’s Aabpara Police Station for alleging that former president Asif Ali Zardari was hatching a plot to assassinate the PTI chief.
In the FIR, the PPP divisional president stated that the AML chief tried to badmouth a former president and cause a “permanent danger” to the PPP co-chairman and his family.
Bilawal Bhutto, Chairman of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), has voiced apprehension regarding the escalating politics of animosity and division inside the nation.
During a ceremony at the Governor’s House, he urged all political parties to collaborate in combating terrorism. He asserted that multinational entities were responsible for terrorism in Pakistan and pledged to combat its enablers.
Bilawal emphasized that the PPP has been essential in the nation’s political landscape, especially in addressing extremism. He emphasized that terrorism and the economic crisis are significant concerns for the populace.
He emphasized that poverty and unemployment have afflicted citizens for years and must be prioritized. He underscored the deteriorating law and order conditions in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, advocating that public concerns should remain apolitical.
Criticizing some opposition parties, he noted that they skipped the National Security Council meeting to exploit terrorism for political gains.
Barrister Gohar, Chairman of the PTI, has claimed that the party’s founder has suspended negotiations, emphasizing that the government should declare the commission within seven days.
He emphasized the PTI’s openness to rethink if the government makes headway and establishes the commission.
Barrister Gohar told the reporters, “Seven days were enough to announce the commission.” We are ready to reconsider, but the government must first announce the commission.”
He stated that the PTI approached the negotiations with an open mind. “The PTI founder has halted the negotiations. “The government had eight laws on their agenda, while we only had two demands,” he stated.
The PTI chairman went on to say that even after seven days, no progress had been made in forming the commission. He encouraged the government to reconsider the decision and proceed with the announcement.
According to reports, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) intends to hold rallies nationwide on Wednesday in support of its decision to declare February 8, the one-year anniversary of the general elections, a black day.
According to media sources, PTI founder Imran Khan has instructed all party lawmakers—including MPAs and MNAs—to plan and take part in demonstrations in their local communities on February 8 in order to draw attention to their complaints and issues.
In a recent meeting with legal advisors on Wednesday, Imran Khan expressed dissatisfaction with the performance of the party’s Information Secretary Sheikh Waqas Akram. The meeting emphasized the importance of party discipline and gave stern directives to abstain from any criticism of Maulana Fazlur Rehman, the head of the JUI-F.
It has also been suggested that the PTI engage opposition leaders in the demonstrations in order to win their support.
Party insiders revealed that the founder has urged leaders to ensure effective coordination and mobilised efforts in preparation for February 8.