LAHORE: The Lahore High Court has ruled that inciting public to raise funds for ‘Jihad’ (holy war) is not allowed to individuals in an Islamic state as this may be considered as “baghawat” (treason).

“At the most it may be a job of the state to collect national funds for a declared war, if essential, which cannot be raised privately by any organisation,” a two-judge bench headed by Justice Ali Baqar Najafi explains in a verdict, dismissing appeals of two men convicted for raising funds for proscribed militant outfit Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

An anti-terrorism court of Sargodha had handed down five-year imprisonment each to the appellants –Muhammad Ibrahim and Ubaidur Rehman -- in January 2021.

As per the prosecution story, the police on a tip-off arrested Ibrahim and recovered 136 pamphlets, one used and two unused subscription books of the banned outfit and cash, whereas a receipt of donation was recovered from Rehman, besides other material.

The counsel for the appellants argued that neither any other donor, nor the person to whom the funds were transferred, was arrested, nor any membership card of the proscribed organisation was recovered from the appellants.

Justice Najafi, the author of the verdict, rejected the arguments, saying no mala fide of the police witnesses was even alleged to cast aspersion on their credibility.

He observes that the display of different heads on the pamphlet was not essential as the fact remains that the TTP is a defunct and proscribed organisation which has caused damage not only to the state institutions and targeted the state high functionaries, but also intensified the wave of terrorism in the past, which would not have been possible without financial support.

The judge maintains that the prosecution proved the case against the appellants on the basis of direct evidence beyond reasonable doubt.

Published in Dawn, January 27th, 2022

Opinion

Editorial

Disaffected voices
11 Oct, 2024

Disaffected voices

A FRESH stand-off is brewing between the state, and the recently banned PTM, principally over the tribal jirga that...
Joint anti-smog steps
11 Oct, 2024

Joint anti-smog steps

CLIMATE change knows no borders. Hence, much of the world is striving to control the rapidly rising global...
Agri taxes
11 Oct, 2024

Agri taxes

IT is not a good omen that reforms are once again being delayed. According to the finance minister, a new tax regime...
Mental wellness
Updated 10 Oct, 2024

Mental wellness

On this World Mental Health Day, the message is clear: mental health at work must become a priority.
IHK poll results
10 Oct, 2024

IHK poll results

AN interesting political arrangement has emerged after polls concluded in India-held Kashmir. It appears that the...
Demonstrating intent
10 Oct, 2024

Demonstrating intent

THE finance minister appears confident about the direction his ministry is taking and seems firmly committed to...