ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Wednesday ordered the interior ministry to launch an inquiry into the allegations of torture of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Shahbaz Gill.

Acting IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq issued a detailed 21-page verdict, asking the interior ministry to appoint an inquiry officer under the supervision of a retired IHC judge. “An SSP rank officer will supervise the physical remand of Shahbaz Gill to ensure there should be no torture of him,” the court ordered.

“Upon his arrival at Adiala Jail, the physical examination of Shahbaz Gill was recorded in the record register. The medical officer wrote in the register that Gill had multiple injuries and marks on his body. He should have had an immediate medical examination as per the rules about the prisoners,” the IHC said in its verdict.

“According to the law, the jail authorities were bound to report to the sessions judge and the in-charge prosecution. But, the jail authorities reported torture of Shahbaz Gill to neither the sessions judge nor the advocate general,” it added.

“A medical board was constituted on August 13 and August 15 to examine Shahbaz Gill. According to the police, Shahbaz Gill refused to undergo a medical examination by the medical board which gave a report on Gill’s health, but made no mention of torture. The IG Islamabad police also denied torture of Shahbaz Gill,” it stated.

“The allegations of torture of Shahbaz Gill cannot be ignored. The Constitution and the courts are the guardians of the prisoners’ rights. The torture of an accused on the pretext of collecting evidence cannot be allowed,” it stressed.

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