ISLAMABAD: An anti-terrorism court has declared as absconder an anchorperson who did not attend any hearing in a case related to the alleged use of defamatory remarks by ex-senator Faisal Raza Abidi against the Chief Justice of Pakistan during a television programme hosted by her.

Judge Shahrukh Arjumand of the Islamabad-based court said Shanzay Rehman, the anchorperson, had rendered herself liable to action by not complying with repeated notices to appear in court to answer charges against her.

The police had implicated the nchorperson as a co-accused in the case against Faisal Raza Abidi. The FIR registered against the former senator says that during the TV show, he used “sarcastic, derogatory, disrespectful and defamatory language” against the chief justice with criminal intent and ulterior motives and without any lawful justification.

The FIR further said Faisal Raza Abidi is prima facie guilty of offences punishable under sections 10(a), 11 and 20 of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act of 2016, read with sections 109 and 509 of the Pakistan Penal Code.

Published in Dawn, December 6th, 2018