KARACHI, July 20: Two journalists were remanded to judicial custody by two judicial magistrates here on Wednesday after they were charged with fanning religious hatred by publishing objectionable material. Judicial Magistrate (South) Zeeshan Akhtar remanded Abdul Lateef Abu Shamil, associate editor of Friday Special, till Aug 2. He was booked under section 153 (A) and 34 PPC. Yayha Bin Zikariya, Editor of the magazine, is absconding.

Judicial Magistrate, South, Khushi Mohammad, remanded another journalist Tahir, editor of weekly “Wajood” to judicial custody till Aug 2. Two other journalists Ali Altaf and Zakirullah are absconding in the case, carrying identical charges of fanning religious disharmony.

Protest: A large number of journalists marched from Karachi Press Club to the Sindh Governor’s House on Wednesday where they observed a sit-in against raids on newspaper offices and arrest of journalists and hawkers.

Speaking on the occasion, PFUJ President Mazhar Abbas said that the arrest of journalists and hawkers was violation of Constitution and human rights.

The protesting journalists, later, presented a memorandum to the Governor’s PRO at gate of Governor House.

JI: The Amir of Jamaat-i-Islami Sindh and leader of the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal, Dr Mumtaz Ali Memon, has criticized the government’s crackdown on religious seminaries and raids on various offices of newspapers and magazines across the country.

He said in a statement on Wednesday that Islam is a religion of peace and there was no place for terrorism in it.

“Those fanning sectarianism have no links with Islam because the religion preaches brotherhood, religious freedom and protection of minorities’ rights,” he said.

He said the West had started a war against Muslims round the world, with no end in sight, he said, adding that it was a big conspiracy to destroy the Muslims.

The JI leader said they (West) had destroyed Afghanistan and had massacred thousands of Muslims in Iraq, but were still blaming the Muslims to be terrorists.—PPI

PPP: President of Pakistan Peoples Party, Sindh, Syed Qaim Ali Shah, on Wednesday slammed raids on newspapers and magazines and sealing of their offices, besides arresting journalists and hawkers and termed it an attack on the freedom of press, adds Our Reporter.