Actress Meera and Captain Naveed. PHOTO: JAVED YOUSAF
An additional district and sessions judge reserved his decision on a petition seeking the registration of a case against actress Meera and her husband Captain Naveed till April 3 (today).
Advocate Amir Saeed Rawn, representing Shabir Muhammad, said that Meera and her husband had damaged the image of Pakistani society by releasing an “immoral” video clip. He said it was a cognisable offence under Sections 294 and 496 of PPC (obscene acts; non-marital sex) and Section 13 of Prevention of Electronic Crimes Ordinance 2009 (cyber stalking). Rawn said that the couple had released the video on YouTube, which was public space. He said that it was unIslamic even if they were married. He said instead of earning a good name for Pakistan, Meera was maligning it and should be punished for it. Meera’s counsel Ahmed Fahim Bhatti said that Islam also did not allow people to watch such videos and yet the petitioner had keenly done so. Moreover, the petitioner claimed to have watched the video on YouTube, which is banned in the country, so this would also be a contravention of law. He said there was no law that established a cognisable offence in this matter. He said that the petition was not maintainable and requested the court to dismiss it.
Shabir Muhammad has said that he watched a video featuring Meera and her husband on January 20. He said the video had damaged the image of Pakistan. He requested the court to direct police to register a case against Meera and her husband and have their names placed on the Exit Control List.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 3rd, 2014.
COMMENTS (19)
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Two individuals involved in sexual activity has nothing to do with the image of Pakistan. This video was actually made by themselves; they did not hire anybody to shoot that act, therefor it was completely personal. Where does this court go when minors are pitilessly raped and molested on daily basis herein Pakistan?
What a crap verdict.. If their intimate video is leaked by someone how is she at fault? So if tomorrow public does "the act" someone records and leaks it, they will put half the country in jail for doing it? The lawyer enforcing moral principles on her where was his morals when he was searching & watching the explicit video. Nothing "unislamic" then? File should be registered against him not her for illegally watching "prohibited explicit material" on banned site. . Btw how does an individual's personal act bring disrepute to ones country? Was she the ambassador of country's repute? So now munni's/Sheila/malikas/rakhis/veenas' are appointed brand ambassador of the country? Great just great. Assuming that itself is insult to the country and the person saying that should be jailed.
Regardless of the authenticity of the video or the matter of its leakage, i dont see how the image of intolerence, religious bigotry, extreme violence and mass murders can at all be damaged by any video, no matter how pornographic it maybe.
Courts are there to upheld the LAW. and the LAW of Pakistan demands action against illegal act. those Pakistanis who are supporting the illicit video should also be brought to justice. the writ of the Gov has to be established on every Pakistani citizen.
The founders of Pakistan had ruined the image of Muslims by insisting that they cannot compete with Hindus so wanted to have a land of pure incompetence . It's they who should be sued
Obviously it is a private video that got out. If the ones in the video are not bothered about it, the courts much let sleeping dogs lie.
Lets find out reasons for maligning the name of Pakistan! 1. Military leaders who have time and again destroyed democarcy in Paksitan! 2. Unending Feudalism and social imbalance in Pakistan! 3. Hostile intentions towards Hindus and non-tolerance towards other religions! 4. Medieval education system and social laws that persecute women. 5. Politicins looting Pakistan's money and keep it poor! 6. Pakistan being established as a beggar nation and a failed State! 7. Three lost wars with India and selling out to China! Does anyone need to know more on Pakistan's image??????
It is an indivudal or 2's act and nothing do with the "image" of Pakistan... if image of Pakistan is of such importance there is a lot more we should be doing as a society then think of blasphemy and child marriage laws as a starters!
Complainer was watching pornographic material. He could be sued as well for smearing Pakistan's reputation. As a Muslims he should have not watched the movie, he too according to his logic has damaged the image of Pakistan. In recent years the country listed high in some very nasty Google surveys, with some very obscure key terms. This complainer continued to contribute to that awful impression on the international stage, he maligned Pakistan as well.
Does the one who filed this case have any proof that is was the couple who uploaded the video? Youtube is banned in Pakistan. Anyway, why would the couple go to such great lengths in a conservative society to upload such a video, knowing fully that such an act would get them in serious trouble? In Pakistan, you can get killed for much less.
What does a private sexual act by two individuals have anything to do with a country's image? Is shabir Muhammad going to sue all those rapists in Pakistan, that lately have been kidnapping, killing and dumping little children, for defamation of the country?
to be honest, it's something person and court has nothing to do with it... this is universal l aw in the world that no one enter into your privacy.
Perhaps this video is leaked by some repairing phone shop... Thus make sure you don't shoot videos like this with your phone which can be recovered later when you exchange your phone.
"Advocate Amir Saeed Rawn, representing Shabir Muhammad, said that Meera and her husband had damaged the image of Pakistani society by releasing an “immoral” video clip."
Actually this is not true. It is violent extremists that have damaged Pakistan's reputation and image not Meera and her partner. If anything, Pakistan's image abroad may have improved because of this. Please go after the extremists and prosecute them if you can....
You tube is blocked in Pakistan. If the video is on youtube then meera should let go. the crime is committed outside the country out of pakistani courts jurisdiction