Behind bars: Two clerics arrested for hate speech

RAWALPINDI: The counter-terrorism department (CTD) of the Punjab Police have arrested a cleric in a hate speech case. Qari Imran Ali, the suspect, was arrested during a raid conducted in the limits of Naseerabad Police Station. Ali was presented before a magistrate, who sent him on a five-day physical remand into CTD custody. Meanwhile, another hate speech suspect was arrested from within the courtroom on Monday. Qari Sheikh Qadeer, the suspect, was arrested after special anti-terrorism court (ATC) judge Muhammad Ayub Khan Marth cancelled his bail-before-arrest. CTD police had booked Qadeer on November 5. The police will obtain his physical remand from the court today (Tuesday). Another two hate speech cases were adjourned by ATCs. The case against Qari Israr was adjourned till November 23 while the case against Imran Suhail was adjourned till November 18.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 17^th, 2015.