Pakistan

Plea against Mubashir Luqman dismissed

A sessions court dismissed on Thursday a petition seeking registration of an FIR against Mubashir Luqman.

Express July 30, 2010

KARACHI: A sessions court dismissed on Thursday a petition seeking registration of an FIR against Mubashir Luqman, the host of Express TV Channel’s programme ‘Point-Blank’.

Mian Mehmood, a resident of PECHS, Block 6, had filed a petition through his lawyer in the court of additional district and sessions judge (east), Sanaullah Ghori.

The petitioner held that on June 2, 2010, the channel broadcast its programme (Point-Blank with Luqman) in which spiritual leader of Qadianis – Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (Qadiani) – was also invited “which hurt my and millions of fellow Muslims’ religious sensibilities”.

He maintained that during the programme, Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (Qadiani) openly described himself as “Ahmadi Muslim”, and thereby made a mockery of the anti-Qadiani ordinance and disparaged the constitution of Pakistan. Therefore, he continued, the court order registration of FIR against Mubashir Luqman.

During the hearing of the petition, a member of Sindh Bar Council, Naeem Qureshi appeared on behalf of Express News, and argued that the court was not competent to take action on the application.

He further held that the media enjoyed freedom in the country, and everyone had a right to religious practice and give vent to his viewpoint. Everyone is also made subject of criticism. He maintained that Express News is a distinguished TV channel and some people want to use its name to gain cheap publicity.

After weighing the arguments of both sides, the court disposed of the petition.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 30^th, 2010.

COMMENTS (5)

Dr Salim Hosein | 14 years ago | Reply Ridiculous, just like the 'law' it was based on. "You are free; you are free to go to your temples, you are free to go to your mosques or to any other place or worship in this State of Pakistan. You may belong to any religion or caste or creed that has nothing to do with the business of the State." These were the immortal words of the Quaid-e-Azam. How far we've strayed from the beautiful vision he had for this country. We've given into the Mullahs that opposed the creation of Pakistan in the first place. Civil society needs to stand up and take back our country and send all these mullahs to Fata or something.

Hasan | 14 years ago | Reply Justice and good sense prevailed.

VIEW MORE COMMENTS

Anwar Ahmad | 14 years ago | Reply This petition should not have been entertained by court in first place as it wasn't even worth hearing. Mubashir Lucman have done more than enough to placate people like Mian Mahmood by giving full time of his show to three anti-Ahmadiyya mullahs to reiterate their baseless allegation and also urged his viewers to buy books written by them. Unlike the (objectioned) program which was never repeated, this program was repeated three times within 24 hours.

Bilal | 14 years ago | Reply It is an example of prejudice against Ahmadis, people don’t even let them clarify wrong beliefs attributed to them. This attitude is logical result of inhuman laws passed in 1974 & 1984, in this petition 1984 law has been indicated which can clearly put Mirza Sahib into jail for stating what he believes in. I don’t know how he got away after it. In Pakistan you observe hatred slogans displayed on billboards and under names of Punjab high courts, these slogans declare Ahmadis to be infidel & deserving to be killed, but nobody’s religious feelings are hurt. In our country nobody cares about those who can’t kill a human, and everyone cares about those who can kill any human. Just see how unjust and barbaric people we are.

Waseem | 14 years ago | Reply oh my goodness.. i can't belive there are people who are so ignorant. How can you say it hurts the feeling of muslims when our leaders go meet everyone else in the world. President Zardari was even ready to hug Sarah paulin, i didn't hear him say anything then.. Ignorance at its best.

Replying to X