Weak prosecution: ‘Hate’ crime suspect acquitted

LAHORE: A division bench of the Lahore High Court on Wednesday acquitted Qari Yousaf, formerly a member of Sipah-i-Sahaba, from an accusation pertaining to distribution of hate material. He was sentenced to five years in prison by an anti-terrorism court in May. He had filed an appeal against his conviction. His counsel said the prosecution had failed to produce any impartial witnesses. A deputy prosecutor general said Yousaf had been arrested while he was distributing hate material against the army and other state institutions.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 11^th, 2015.