Govt seeks cancellation of Safdar’s bail

The accused committed a heinous offence by delivering hate speech against the govt

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) summoned the police to retrieve the record from quarters concerned on a petition filed by the Punjab government seeking cancellation of after-arrest bail of Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PMLN) leader Captain (retd) Muhammad Safdar.

An additional district and sessions judge had granted him after-arrest bail, on October 30, over a hate speech offence against the state. The Punjab government contended in its petition before Justice Farooq Haider that the additional district and sessions judge ‘did not apply’ judicial mind while passing the order in favour of Safdar on October 30.

“The accused committed a heinous offence by delivering hate speech against the government of Pakistan and instigated the public to take part in an anti-government movement which went viral on social media,” the counsel said.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 21^st, 2019.