Safdar indicted in hate speech case
LAHORE: A judicial magistrate on Saturday indicted retired Capt Muhammad Safdar, son-in-law of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, in a hate speech case.
Safdar along with his counsel appeared before the magistrate at district courts. The prosecution submitted its charge sheet before the court and Safdar pleaded not guilty.
At this the magistrate directed the prosecution to produce its witnesses on June 10.
Islampura police had registered the case and arrested Safdar the night Mr Sharif was admitted to Services Hospital from NAB’s custody in 2019.
Police alleged that Safdar had incited people against the government and state institutions.
Safdar’s counsel contended that police acted with mala fide intention as they had initially lodged the FIR under Section 16, Maintenance of Public Order Ordinance and later inserted Sections 124 and 506 of the Pakistan Penal Code as well.
He said the case against Safdar was nothing but a result of political victimisation. He asked the court to quash the case and acquit his client.
Meanwhile, media reports said Safdar and PML-N MPA Imran Khalid were also indicted by a court in Gujranwala in a case of sedition and interference with the government.
Published in Dawn, June 5th, 2022
