ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister Mian Javed Latif of PML-N on Wed­ne­sday filed a petition before the Islam­abad High Court (IHC) challenging the FIRs registered against him at various police stations in Punjab.

Mr Latif said the FIRs had been registered in Punjab over his utterances during a TV programme broadcast from Islamabad and contended that such cases could not be registered anywhere other than the federal capital since the incident had taken place there.

Cases pertain to his remarks against PTI chairman

He further said that it was the exclusive domain of the Pakistan Elect­ronic Media Regulatory Authority to take action if his utterances were indecent and offensive. He requested the court to declare these FIRs as illegal.

The FIRs against the minister were lodged under Section 9 (punishment for acts intended or likely to stir up sectarian hatred) and 11X-3 (responsibility for creating civil commotion).

In one FIR, the complainant said he came across a press conference addressed by Mr Latif on Sept 14 (broadcast by TV) during which he hurled “disturbing accusations” at PTI Chairman Imran Khan in the name of religion.

Mr Latif had accused Mr Khan of “attacking the basic principles of Islam” by supporting the Ahmadiyya community during his tenure as prime minister.

Pakistan Television Managing Director Sohail Khan and Director Programme Rashid Baig have also been nominated in the case.

Published in Dawn, October 6th, 2022