Mohsin Baig's spouse challenges terrorism case in IHC

Says police registered false and baseless case against him

ISLAMABAD:

Media personality Mohsin Baig’s wife challenged the terrorism case against him on Thursday in the Islamabad High Court (IHC).

His wife petitioned for the dismissal of the terrorism case, stating that the police had registered a false and baseless case against him in the Margalla police station and that the court should order the police to dismiss the case.

A day earlier, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) had arrested Baig, after a large contingent of police raided his house in the morning for criticising Communications Minister Murad Saeed.

The FIA had registered a case against Baig at Saeed's request, days after the former made an unethical and disparaging remark against the latter during a private TV channel programme. The panellists were discussing Murad’s ministry receiving a top performance award by Prime Minister Imran Khan recently.

The programme received heavy criticism from the government quarters, and the channel was also served a show-cause notice by the media regulator.

Read Imran won't be able to save himself despite using state’s power: Maryam

During the raid, the FIA officials said, Baig, his sons and servants opened straight fire on the FIA team and held two officers hostage and tortured them. Baig committed a crime by firing on government employees along with his sons and servants, they said.

The officials added that Baig was taken to Margalla police station where the Islamabad police were taking further action. Baig’s son was also named in the case registered against him at the Margalla police station.

The FIA said that a case was registered against Baig under Sections 20 (offences against the dignity of a natural person), 21-D (offences against modesty of a person and minor) and 24 (cyber stalking) of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act, 2016 read with Sections 500 (defaming army officers) and 555 (statement conducing to public mischief) of the Pakistan Penal Code.

Baig’s spokesperson said that the FIA had no arrest warrant for his arrest and that no case was registered against him. According to the spokesperson, Baig was beaten during the operation while his family members were harassed.

Initially, there was no statement from the FIA. However, the agency said in the afternoon that its Cyber Crime Wing Lahore had filed a case against Baig at the request of Federal Minister Murad Saeed and raided Baig’s house in F-8 after obtaining warrant from a court.