Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi has said that "a very responsible person” told him he was not involved in the May 9 incidents.

On Thursday, Qureshi was produced before the duty magistrate in a Rawalpindi local court after his arrest in the GHQ gate attack case, where the court rejected his request for physical remand and sent him on a judicial remand.

Before his appearance in court, a heavy contingent of police was deployed outside the judicial complex and journalists were banned from entering.

The hearing

During the hearing, the prosecutor said Shah Mahmood was arrested on the obtained evidence, adding that his speech was not trivial, he was among those who attacked the army’s GHQ. He further said that their case was based on the fact that after Qureshi’s speech, the GHQ was attacked.

The prosecutor stated that during the remand they would see how much impact the speech had on the incident, and asked for Qureshi’s remand till January 2, as they had strong evidence against him.

On the other hand, Shah Mehmood Qureshi's lawyer Ali Bukhari took the stand that the prosecution only had a tweet against his client wherein he asked people to take to the streets in solidarity with former PTI chairman Imran Khan.

During the hearing, the judge ordered Qureshi’s handcuffs to be opened.

Ali Bukhari said that the anti-terrorism court had discharged 12 suspects in the GHQ attack case whose names were included in the FIR. Their bail was approved by the high court. He then asked to discharge Qureshi in the case.

Shah Mahmood Qureshi's conversation with judge

On the occasion, the former FM spoke to the judge and said, "My speech has been mentioned, but they are not talking about the full thing. I said that the law should not be taken into hands. The court should seek the video. I said peaceful protest is the right of the people.”

He further told the court that "a very responsible person told me that I am clear in the May 9 incidents. I will tell you separately if you want. If you want, I will give you the name also".

The PTI vice chairman said a fake case was being instituted against him. If he got a bail in the cipher case, he’d be here.

Later, the court rejected Qureshi's physical remand plea and sent him back to Adiala Jail on judicial remand.