High Court rules in favor of Qasim’s 15-day remand extension

High Court has ruled in favor of Criminal Court’s decision to remand Jumhoory Party (JP) Leader Qasim Ibrahim to 15 more days in police custody.

Qasim was arrested for the second time on April 20; he was remanded to police custody for 15 days by Criminal Court on April 21.

Upon appeal, High Court ruled this Tuesday that Qasim was arrested through a court order requested by Prosecutor General. The court said Prosecutor General’s request was not required in remand-related decisions.

High Court also ruled that there was sufficient evidence against Qasim to justify the charge against him.

It had been the main argument by Qasim’s lawyers that the request for Qasim to be remanded to custody for 15 days was made by the police, in violation of the law on impunity which dictates that the request in the situation should have been made by the Prosecutor General.

The lawyers had also argued the authorities did not have any evidence to support the charge.