Non-bailable arrest warrant issued against Marriyum

ATC cancels warrant against Javed Latif after court appearance in hate speech case

LAHORE:

An Anti-Terrorism Court on Saturday again issued a non-bailable arrest warrant against PML-N’s former information minister Marriyum Aurangzeb in a case registered against her for abetting party leader Javed Latif in creating religious hate and declaring former prime minister Imran Khan a non-Muslim on TV talk shows.

Meanwhile, ATC Judge Abher Gul cancelled the already issued non-bailable arrest warrant against Latif after he appeared before the court.

The ATC judge had issued non-bailable arrest warrants against the PML-N leaders after they did not turn up before the court.

On Saturday, the ATC judge once again issued non-bailable arrest warrant against Marriyum over her non-appearance. However, the judge fixed Dec 9 for the implementation of the non-bailable arrest warrants issued against Marriyum as well as seeking arguments of the prosecution on Latif’s acquittal application.

According to the case details, the police concerned had submitted a ‘cancelation report’ of the FIR which the ATC judge had disagreed to.

The ATC judge had summoned the accused persons before the court.

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After that, counsel for the accused, Syed Farhad Ali Shah, had filed an acquittal plea requesting the court to acquit the accused persons in this “false and concocted FIR”.

Two others accused in this FIR, employees of the PTV, had obtained stay from the Islamabad High Court.

In the last proceedings, Latif could not appear before the court owing to his engagements due to the demise of his brother and Marriyum owing to her busy schedule due to the arrival of three-time premier Nawaz Sharif.

The applications submitted on their behalf seeking exemption from personal appearance before the court were dismissed as a result of which non-bailable arrest warrants were issued.

On Saturday, the ATC judge cancelled the non-bailable arrest warrant against Latif after he appeared before the court and following the non-appearance of Marriyum, the ATC judge issued again the non-bailable arrest warrant.

Counsel Farhad in Marriyum’s acquittal application had implored the court that his client had no nexus with the role attributed to her in the FIR of abetting someone to incite public through talk shows, playing the religious card and getting Imran declared as a non-Muslim.

He contended in the acquittal application that she had been implicated in a forged case merely to humiliate her despite the fact that she haD nothing to do with these charges.

Read more Acquittals don’t make PML-N ladla: Marriyum

Media talk

PML-N leader Latif welcomed the initiative of accountability within the institutions, adding that the nation was facing gigantic problems owing to some wrong decisions.

He expelled the impression that they had ever delivered any hate speech, adding that they had been implicated in a case in response to a positive criticism against the then Prime Minister Imran Khan.

FIR content

Complainant Irshadur Rehman lodged an FIR at the Green Town police on Sept 19, 2022 under different sections of the Anti-Terrorism Act.

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He contended in the FIR that PTI Chairman Imran was known worldwide for his social work, making compulsory Quranic education in schools all over Pakistan, constituting Rehmatul lil Alameen Authority and presenting first time in history the true picture of Islam through a strong stance before the UNGA. But on Sept 14, 2022, he (complainant) along with his friend was watching TV where accused Latif hiding facts declared Imran as a non-Muslim and facilitator of non-Muslims.

Accused Latif made this propaganda following his party’s political agenda. He played the religious card to disgrace and dent the popularity of Imran Khan. He did this in consultation with Marriyum and others to create hate amongst the public and followers of PTI.

The complainant also nominated the PTV officials for fully supporting the accused in this offence.