ISLAMABAD: A case has been registered against a speaker of the Muttahida Sunni Council rally in the capital for allegedly inciting violence and sectarian hatred.

The case was registered with Kohsar police station in response to a complaint lodged by Magistrate City Ghulam Mustafa Chandio under section 295-A (deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs) of the Pakistan Penal Code.

The speaker, affiliated with the banned Ahl-i-Sunnat Wal Jamaat, asked for an oath from the participants of the march held on Thursday against a group and got them to chant slogans against it, the FIR stated.

An officer of the capital police told Dawn on condition of anonymity that the police were waiting for directives from the authorities to initiate legal proceedings over the FIR.

Deputy Commissioner (DC) Mohammad Hamza Shafqaat told Dawn that the FIR was registered against the speaker who allegedly incited violence and sectarian hatred.

The Muttahida Sunni Council was allowed to hold the march and an assurance was taken from it that the participants would follow the SOPs such as avoid inciting violence and sectarian hatred, he added.

However, they violated the assurance and the SOPs, the DC added.

This is the second FIR registered under section 295-A along with 298-A (use of derogatory remarks, etc., in respect of holy personages) in the capital during the last 25 days.

Earlier, a zakir (religious speaker) was booked on the charge of blasphemy by the Shahzad Town police.

Besides, a restriction was also imposed on his entry in the capital.

Published in Dawn, September 20th, 2020