ISLAMABAD: An anti-terrorism court (ATC) on Monday rejected an application seeking post-arrest bail for former senator Faisal Raza Abidi in a case related to defamation of Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar.

ATC Judge Shahrukh Arjumand dismissed the application after the prosecutor claimed that Mr Abidi had in an interview aired on a private television channel tried to blackmail the top judge.

The counsel for Mr Abidi, however, argued that there was nothing on record showing his client had threatened any member of the judiciary.

The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) had booked Mr Abidi under the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) and Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (Peca) 2016.

According to the FIR registered against the former senator, Mr Abidi with criminal intent and ulterior motives and without lawful justification had used sarcastic, derogatory, disrespectful and defamatory language against the chief justice. It said his remarks were tantamount to creating a sense of fear, panic and insecurity among the government, general public and society.

It said Faisal Raza Abidi was prima facie guilty of offences punishable under sections 10(a), 11 and 20 of Peca, read with sections 109 and 509 of the PPC.

Mr Abidi is also facing other FIRs registered at the Secretariat police station under PPC’s sections 228, 500, 505(ii) and 34, along with the ATA, in response to a complaint lodged by SC public relations fficer Shahid Hussain Kambyo for using threatening language and levelling allegations against government institutions and individuals holding the highest constitutional posts.

Published in Dawn, October 23rd, 2018

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