Hate speech: ASWJ leader sentenced to six months in prison

Mufti Tanveer Farooqi was arrested by CTD from Taxila in May this year

RAWALPINDI: An anti-terrorism court (ATC) on Monday awarded six months imprisonment to the leader of a banned religious outfit for delivering hate speeches.

In May this year, Punjab Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) had arrested Mufti Tanveer Alam Farooqi, a former president of the proscribed Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat (ASWJ)’s Rawalpindi chapter, from Taxila and registered a case for delivering hate speeches and illegal fund raising.

ATC Judge Aisf Majeed Awan, while announcing the decision, awarded six months imprisonment and a Rs50,000 fine to Farooqi. During the hearing, Farooqi was also present in the court and was immediately taken into custody after the verdict was announced.

According to a CTD official, Farooqi was wanted for delivering hate speeches and illegal fund raising. Earlier, the CTD had submitted a charge-sheet against him for delivering hate speeches at various occasions.

The CTD official said Farooqi was also wanted by the Rawalpindi police in a terrorism-related case registered with the Sadiqabad police and the case is still pending.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 6^th, 2015.