Qureshi, prosecutor engage in heated exchange of words in Adiala Jail

Rawalpindi: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Vice-Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi and prosecutor Raja Rizwan Abbas engaged in a heated exchange during the hearing in Adiala Jail on Tuesday.

Shah Mahmood Qureshi, visibly agitated, expressed frustration at the prosecutor's intervention while discussing his fundamental rights before the court.

“I’m talking about my basic rights, why are you interrupting me?,” asked Qureshi while addressing the prosecutor.

Qureshi accused him of obstructing his protest against the rejection of his nomination papers, denying him the right to contest polls.

After confrontation, the heated words were exchanged between prosecutor Rizwan Abbasi and Shah Mahmood Qureshi, with the PTI leader questioning Abbasi's significance and authority to prevent him from asserting his rights in a court of law. Abbasi responded in a similar manner.

Judge Abu Al-Hasanat Muhammad Zul-Qarnain advised the both parties to remain calm during the exchange.

Qureshi highlighted the rejection of his nomination papers from NA-150, NA-151, and PP-218, submitting an application against the rejections. The judge acknowledged Qureshi's right to challenge the rejection, assuring a thorough examination of the application.

In a related development on January 19, the federal government filed a plea in the Supreme Court against the Islamabad High Court's verdict nullifying the jail trial of the PTI founder in a cipher case. The plea argued that the high court overlooked facts and exceeded its authority in ruling against the special court.