ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court granted bail on Thursday to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Shahbaz Gill, party chairman Imran Khan’s chief of staff, in a sedition case. Gill has been ordered to submit a surety of Rs500,000.

IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah, while hearing the arguments of the defendant’s lawyer, remarked that Gill’s statement was irresponsible, inappropriate and defamatory. “But the country’s armed forces aren’t so weak to be affected by such irresponsible statements.”

Justice Minallah said that while Gill’s statement could not be justified, the court didn’t see the case as one of sedition or inciting rebellion.

Gill was arrested on August 10, a day after his controversial remarks on ARY News in which he claimed that attempts were being made to incite hatred against the PTI among the middle and lower ranks of the military. He suggested the junior ranks were being pressured by the top brass and that these orders were against the wishes of the majority. He went on to say that the rank and file should reconsider following orders that were against their principles.

During today’s hearing, Gill’s lawyer Salman Safdar pleaded that his client be granted bail while contending that the case against the PTI leader was politically motivated.

The IHC chief justice responded whether he could justify Gill’s comment suggesting that the armed forces was involved in politics. “Can the army be involved in politics according to the Constitution? Can there be any justification for such remarks by the spokesperson of a political party?”

Justice Minallah said that Gill’s conversation showed the extent to which political parties were inciting hatred. He added that the country’s armed forces were not weak enough to be influenced by someone’s irresponsible and careless statements.

Special Prosecutor Raja Rizwan Abbasi told the chief justice that the permission of the government was taken before registering the case of sedition.

When Gill’s lawyer talked about the case against Gill being politically motivated, Justice Minallah said that the govt for which Gill served as spokesperson resorted to similar cases when in power. “This is a careless statement.”

Justice Minallah inquired from the special prosecutor whether Gill had contacted any lawyer to incite him to mutiny. “Was there a complaint filed by the armed forces? Can members of the armed forces be influenced by such a careless statement?”

He observed that the trial court had struck down all other provisions except sedition. “Did you challenge the order?”

He inquired whether there was any evidence of Gill inciting any individual to rebellion.

The prosecutor responded that Gill gave his statment on a news channel. Its viewers include every other individual and members of the armed forces. It wasn’t just one person but he incited everyone to rebel, the prosecutor argued.

After completion of arguments, the IHC approved Gill’s bail plea, and ordered him to submit a surety bond of Rs500,000.