PESHAWAR: A court has ordered the Peshawar SSP (Investigation) to conduct an inquiry against an Islamabad-based journalist on an application filed by a police officer accusing the journalist of committing defamation by filing a baseless news story against him.

The court of the additional district and sessions judge Jehangir Khan, ordered the SSP to conduct the inquiry and submit a report before Dec 2, the next date of hearing.

The court issued the order on the application of a DIG of Police, Dr Fasihuddin, against reporter Umar Cheema.

The applicant had earlier filed a damages suit against the reporter and the verdict was given in his favour last year and the reporter had been asked to pay Rs1 million in fine to the applicant.

Now the officer has filed an application with the court under Sections 200 and 250 of the Code of Criminal Procedure and Sections 499, 500 and 502 of the Pakistan Penal Code for a criminal defamation against the reporter.

Published in Dawn, November 24th, 2017