TAXILA: A court in Attock on Monday granted the police another two days’ physical remand of Member National Assembly (MNA) Sheikh Rashid Shafique, nephew of former interior minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed, in the case registered over Masjid-i-Nabvi incident.

Mr Shafique was arrested at the Islamabad International Airport (IIA) upon his arrival from Saudi Arabia on Sunday.

Police produced the MNA in the court of duty magistrate Jamal Mehmood amid tight security on Monday. The district court complex was sealed and even lawyers were not allowed to enter the premises.

During the hearing, the police sought an extension in the remand so that they could recover the mobile phone utilised in uploading a video message by the suspect.

The magistrate granted the police another two days’ remand and directed them to produce the suspect before the court on the second day of Eid. Subsequently, the judge adjourned the hearing till May 4.

The case had been registered against 150 people, including former prime minister Imran Khan, ex-ministers Fawad Chaudhry, Sheikh Rashid and Shahbaz Gill as well as Mr Shafique, in connection with sloganeering against Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and his delegation at Masjid-i-Nabvi in Saudi Arabia.

The case was registered at the New Airport police station of Attock on the complaint of

Qazi Mohammad Tariq Advocate under section 295, 295-A and 296 of Pakistan Penal Code (PPC).

On the night following the Masjid-i-Nabvi incident, MNA Shafique had posted a video from his cell phone on social media at the holy site, supporting the incident.

He had also hinted that the same would happen to the delegation when they visit the holy Kaba in Makkah.

Talking to reporters outside the judicial complex, former special assistant to the prime minister on overseas Pakistanis Zulfi Bukhari said religion was being used for political purposes and all these conspiracies were being hatched by Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah.

Mr Bukhari said what was happening against the prime minister was a public reaction.

Leader of the opposition in Sindh Assembly Haleem Adil Sheikh said: “The imported government wants to create an atmosphere of hatred in the country.” Fear of disenfranchisement forced Pakistanis abroad to chant anti-government slogans.

Syed Yawar Abbas Bukhari said the sanctity of holy prophet (peace be upon him) was obligatory on every Muslim.

The government is playing with the beliefs of the people.

Raising a voice against Islamophobia is the work of PTI and Imran Khan. If calling a thief a thief is wrong, is it not an insult to raise slogans in favour of someone?

A large number of PTI Rawalpindi and Attock officials and workers were also present on the occasion. They chanted slogans and protested against the government and the interior minister.

Published in Dawn,May 3rd, 2022