After hours-long standoff prison officials at Adiala jail, Wednesday night handed over Shahbaz Gill to the Islamabad police party that had arrived at the prison to secure custody of the PTI leader.
Earlier in the day court remanded Gill into police custody, but when Islamabad police reached the jail for taking him in custody, the jail official refused to hand over the prisoner to it on medical grounds.
The refusal led to a standoff that continues for about four hours. The federal interior ministry had sent Rangers and Frontier Constabulary (FC) to Adiala jail to ensure compliance with court orders.
The resistance from Punjab officials government came shortly after Imran Khan and other PTI leaders expressed fears that Islamabad police will extract from Gill a ‘false statement’ against Imran Khan during the interrogation.
According to media reports, Imran Khan also ordered the Punjab government to somehow move Gill to the hospital to evade his transfer to Islamabad authorities, even if it meant flouting court orders.
It has been reported that when a party from Islamabad police – led by DSP Khalid Awan, Kohisar Police Station SHO Arshad Hussain, and Investigation Officer Talat — arrived at Adiala jail, the prison officials said that they were moving Gill to the District Headquarters Hospital (DHQ) Rawalpindi.
Islamabad police officials, however, insisted on securing his custody as ordered by the court.
As the argument continued more police personnel from both Punjab police and Islamabad police arrived at the jail, creating a standoff, which continues even after four hours.
Senior officials from Islamabad police and Punjab police also arrived at the jail.
There are so many vehicles outside the prison gate the entry has been blocked, the TV reported.
ATS and Punjab police personnel have been deployed at the gate.
Officials also called in ambulances from Rescue 1122, which is under the Punjab government, and PIMS Hospital, which is under Islamabad authorities.
Punjab officials have also deployed a police contingent at DHQ Rawalpindi where Gill is to be likely moved, reported Adil Tanoli.
After the deadlock could not break for four hours, the federal government decided to call in Rangers and FC at around 9pm.
Shah Gill faces sedition charges and was detained on August 9, a day after he urged personnel of the armed forces to disobey their commanders. Gill made the remarks in a phone-in conversation over a private-run TV channel.
He was sent to Adiala jail only two days after being arrested as a lower court turned down the police request to extend his physical remand.
After the police petitioned the Islamabad High Court, the Islamabad District and Sessions Court on Wednesday granted police 48 hours to interrogate Gill to complete their investigation.
Police say they want to recover the mobile phone and other devices being used by Gill.
