SHO told to produce Marriyum on Dec 9 in court

Orders come after PML-N leader failed to appear before ATC judge in hate speech case

LAHORE:

 

An anti-terrorism court on Monday ordered the Green Town police station SHO to arrest PML-N’s former information minister Marriyum Aurangzeb and produce her before the court on Dec 9.

Judge Abher Gul Khan had issued non-bailable arrest warrant on Nov 25 following Marriyum’s regular absence in proceedings of a case registered against her over abetting PML-N leader Javed Latif in creating religious hate and declaring former prime minister Imran Khan as a non-Muslim on TV talk shows.

The copy of the arrest warrant available with The Express Tribune revealed clear directions to the SHO concerned to arrest Marriyum and produce her before the court.

During the proceedings on Nov 25, where the ATC judge issued non-bailable arrest warrant against Marriyum, it also 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 failed to appear before the court.

On Nov 25, the ATC judge again issued a non-bailable arrest warrant against Marriyum over non-appearance.

Read Non-bailable arrest warrant issued against Marriyum

However, ATC Judge Abher fixed Dec 9 for implementing the non-bailable arrest warrants and also sought arguments of the prosecution on Latif’s acquittal application.

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

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

Counsel for the accused Syed Farhad Ali Shah had filed an acquittal application requesting the court to acquit the accused persons in “this false and concocted FIR”.

Two others accused in the 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 at the demise of his brother while Marriyum was busy preparing for the arrival of three-time premier Nawaz Sharif. But 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.