ISLAMABAD: A Pakistan court granted bail on Thursday to Dr. Shahbaz Gill, the chief of staff of ex-premier Imran Khan who is facing treason charges for televised comments the media regulator has called seditious, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party confirmed.
Police arrested the prominent politician from Khan’s party on August 9 for allegedly attempting to incite soldiers to revolt against the country’s top military leadership. Gill had said in a TV appearance on ARY News, which was subsequently taken off air, that there were attempts to create hatred against Khan’s PTI party among the middle and lower ranks of the military, whom he said were supporters of the party.
He suggested the junior ranks were being pressured by the top brass and that these orders were against the wishes of the majority, and that the junior ranks should reconsider following orders that were against their principles. Gill and the head of news for ARY, Ammad Yousaf, were subsequently arrested. Yousaf was released on bail days later but Gill remained in custody. The PTI and Gill allege he was tortured by police. Police have repeatedly denied the charge.
“Shahbaz Gill has obtained bail today,” the PTI said on Twitter.
Pakistan’s media regulator suspended ARY TV operations for broadcasting Gill’s remarks and revoked the channel’s license. ARY is widely known to be a supporter of Khan and a critic of the country’s powerful military as well as Prime Minister Sharif’s government since Khan’s government was ousted in a parliamentary vote of no-confidence in April. He has blamed his removal on a foreign conspiracy orchestrated by the United States, which denies the charge.