LAHORE: The Lahore High Court on Monday dismissed a provincial government appeal seeking cancellation of the bail granted to PML-N leader retired Capt Muhammad Safdar, son-in-law of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, in a case of hate speech and scuffle with police.

Islampura police had registered the FIR against Mr Safdar under sections 124-A, 506-B of the PPC and section 16 of MPO. A sessions court had on Oct 30, 2019, released him on bail.

The government through the prosecution department challenged the bail, pleading that the respondent issued statements against state institutions, which were not only objectionable but fell within ambit of treason.

The appeal argued that the sessions court failed to take into account the prosecution’s opinion and erred in granting bail to the respondent. It asked the court to set aside the lower court decision and cancel the bail.

On the other side, a counsel for the respondent argued the case was frivolous and politically motivated. He said the police concocted the whole story only to falsely implicate his client. He said the police failed to comply with the provisions of law before adding the offence of sedition in the case.

He argued the provision of 16 MPO was not attracted in the case and allegation of sedition was not proved as the words alleged in the FIR did not fall within the definition of section 124-A of the PPC.

Published in Dawn, February 18th, 2020