Pakistan

Jibran Nasir served legal notice for 'raising slogans against security agencies'

Rights activist and NA-247 candidate to appear before the Sindh High Court on July 16

Kaukab Tahir Shairani July 13, 2018

The rights activist and NA-247 candidate will appear before the Sindh High Court on July 16. PHOTO: JIBRAN NASIR

KARACHI: A voter from NA-247 on Friday moved a petition in the Sindh High Court to disqualify rights activist Jibran Nasir from contesting coming elections for allegedly raising slogans against security agencies of the country.

In a tweet, Nasir stated that he has been served notice to appear before the court on July 16. "Forces intimidated by our struggle are filing frivolous cases," he added.

Speaking to The Express Tribune, Nasir provided details that the notice was served to him via TCS around the time of Friday prayers. He added that he will appear in court but termed the notice an attempt to distract and discourage his poll campaign.

A concerned voter of my constituency has moved High Court to disqualify me from contesting elections accusing me of "raising slogans against secuirty agencies" I was served notice today to appear in Court on 16 July. Forces intimidated by our struggle are filing frivolous cases pic.twitter.com/7DgPB6TKQN
— M. Jibran Nasir 🇵🇸 (@MJibranNasir) July 13, 2018

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"If the court gives weightage to such cases, I am not going to apologise to the state and security agencies for it," Nasir said, adding that the case is about freedom of expression, indicating towards loopholes in the country's judicial system.

"What kind of a precedent would it set for other parliamentarians if I'm disqualified under this petition?" he questioned.

Nasir stated that this move causes malice to his candidature and vowed to not shy away from repeating everything in the court that he has been saying in the media. "When I talk to the media I do it with presence of mind".

The National Assembly candidate maintained that he expected better from judges and suggested that they should remind security agencies of their role.

The rights activist, however, stayed short of commenting on the petitioner's intentions and motives. "I can't say if there's an agenda behind this petition," he remarked.