The Rawalpindi bench of the Lahore High Court (LHC) has granted the city police a one-week deadline to locate and bring back Awami Muslim League (AML) chief Sheikh Rashid, whose lawyer alleges that he was apprehended.

Reportedly, the AML leader, who is an ally of the PTI, was taken into custody from his residence by individuals in plain clothes, as claimed by his lawyer, Sardar Abdul Raziq Khan, on September 17. Additionally, Sheikh Rashid’s nephew, Sheikh Shakir, and a houseworker named Sheikh Imran were also arrested and taken to an undisclosed location, according to the lawyer.

Several days later, the police submitted a report from City Police Officer (CPO) Khalid Hamdani to the court, stating that Rashid was neither in their custody nor had he been arrested by the Rawalpindi police.

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On September 26, Raziq argued in court that his client had been arrested by the Rawalpindi police, but the police continued to deny having Sheikh Rashid in their custody.

The court then instructed the police to determine the whereabouts of Rashid and urged the law enforcement agency to make every possible effort to secure his return.

Today, Justice Sadaqat Ali Khan of the LHC’s Rawalpindi bench presided over the proceedings related to the plea concerning the former interior minister’s arrest. Raziq and Sardar Shehbaz Raza served as Rashid’s legal representatives, while Rawalpindi Regional Police Officer (RPO) Syed Khurram Ali represented the police.

While the police mentioned that “Sheikh Rashid’s nephew and worker have returned,” the court ordered the RPO to locate and bring back the AML chief within a week and present him before the court.