MULTAN: Veteran politician Javed Hashmi has said he is not afraid of being killed and will not step back from his stand.

Addressing a press conference here on Saturday, Mr Hashmi said a false propaganda was being spread against him on social media that he was tortured by posting old pictures.

He alleged that certain Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf circles by rejoicing at the “fake news” of his torture on social media were giving an impression that whosoever would take a “clear stand” regarding democratic values would meet the same fate.

“It is a clear conspiracy to initiate a civil war. They think it will scare me and I will restrict myself to my home. I am not afraid of being killed by someone or by accident. Even if this incident (actually) happened, will it help to silence me?” he said.

Eulogises army, ISI

He said he was struggling for the “honour of Pakistan”.

“Scaring the (PML-N) vote is not acceptable and this pre-poll rigging should not be done,” he said.

He said Imran Khan alleged that he (Hashmi) took money in connection with Asghar Khan case. “I will say that Mr Khan is taking a U-turn. He is telling a lie. I have (got) certificate of clearance from Imran Khan as well as the National Accountability Bureau (NAB),” he said.

He warned that efforts were under way to bring instability in the country.

“My struggle is for strengthening of the institutions. I also praise the Inter Service Inelegance (ISI) which is also part of my book. ISI is fighting a war for the country’s survival and even American CIA could not compete it. I struggled for the strengthening of the institutions, including army, ISI, MI and the parliament, but it does not mean that I should become an agent of any of these (institutions),” he said.

He said PPP chairman Bilawal was standing by his father like Benazir Bhutto had stood by her father.

He denied having used foul language against PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari.

DIRECTIVE: A lower court judge in Mian Channu on Saturday directed the Federal Investigation Agency additional director to lodge a case under cyber crime act against two people for allegedly making derogatory remarks about Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar.

Judge Wasim Anjum also directed the additional director to submit a report to the court within 15 days.

Petitioner Shabbir Malik through his counsel Ghulam Safdar stated that Muhammad Ilyas and Muhammad Yahya posted derogatory remarks about the chief justice on social media sites.

He requested the court to direct the FIA to register a case against the respondents.

Published in Dawn, May 20th, 2018