A local court in Lahore on Wednesday dismissed acquittal applications filed by actors Bilal Saeed and Saba Qamar in connection with a first information report (FIR) registered against them for allegedly recording a song at Lahore's historic Wazir Khan Mosque.
Judicial magistrate Sarwat Batool, while dismissing the pleas, fixed March 16 for framing the charges against the accused actors.
The magistrate had earlier reserved the decision after hearing arguments from both the sides on the acquittal applications.
The counsels for the accused had implored the court that the Auqaf department’s inquiry had been in their favour.
They highlighted the statement by Auqaf’s regional manager Ikhlaq Ahmed in his report that no immoral activity had been carried out at the mosque.
Also read: Saba Qamar, Bilal Saeed to be indicted in mosque sanctity case
They went on to add that neither any obscenity was committed at the sacred site nor any objectionable dress was worn at the time of the recording.
However, according to the law officer, the video of the accused dancing was available in an electronic device as an evidence.
He added that mosques are the places where Muslims perform their acts of worship and that the act of the accused had the sentiments of the public. The officer prayed to the court to dismiss the acquittal applications of the duo.
The court had earlier issued arrest warrants for the Baaghi star and the singer in the case. However, at the last hearing, the court had cancelled the arrest warrants and ordered the collection of security bonds of Rs30,000 and ordered both the accused to appear in person. It may be recalled that in August last year, a video recording of a song, Qabool Hai by Saeedwent viral on social media in which the sanctity of the historic Wazir Khan Mosque in Lahore was violated.
The video was widely condemned on social media, including social and religious circles. A case was registered against the actor and singer at Akbari police station in Lahore on the complaint of Farhat Manzoor Khan for violating the sanctity of the Wazir Khan Mosque.
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