Hate speech: Prayer leader sentenced to 10 years in prison

Abdul Ghani arrested for making provocative speeches after Fajr prayers, awarded Rs750,000 fine

BAHAWALPUR: An anti-terrorism court on Friday sentenced a prayer leader to 10 years and four months imprisonment after he was convicted of making hate speeches after Fajr prayers.

Judge Khalid Arshad also fined Abdul Ghani Rs750,000.

Prosecution said Ghani had delivered provocative speeches following Fajr prayers at a mosque in Qayampur.

Qayampur police had registered an FIR against him and arrested him. After examining the evidence and hearing the witnesses, the judge sentenced Ghani to 10 years and four months in jail.

Separately, four people were sentenced to prison terms for possessing banned literature.

Muhammad Waqas was sentenced to 110 days in jail and fined Rs5,000 after he was convicted of possession of banned literature.

Another court sentenced Rafique Ahmad to 105 days in jail and fined him Rs5,000 for possessing banned literature.

Muhammad Zahid was sentenced to imprisonment for 105 days and fined Rs3,000 for possessing literature containing objectionable content. Talib Hussain was sentenced to three months in prison and fined Rs5,000 after objectionable material was recovered from him.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 4^th, 2015.