KARACHI: An antiterrorism court (ATC) has sentenced two YouTubers to five years in prison in a case pertaining to demanding Rs300,000 extortion from the owner of a medical facility.

The ATC-II judge found accused — Waseem Abbas and Muzaamil Aslam — guilty of the offence and ruled that the prosecution proved its case beyond a shadow of a reasonable doubt.

A case was registered at the Aziz Bhatti police station under Sections 385 (order to commit extortion), 386 (putting a person in fear of death or grievous hurt), 34 (common intention) of the Pakistan Penal Code read with Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act of 1997 on the complaint of Arif Solangi, who runs a medical facility near Ayesha Manzil.

According to the prosecution, accused Waseem, along with his cameraman, arrived at the complainant’s facility on Aug 15, 2022, recorded a video and threatened him to destroy his business unless a deal was made.

They had demanded Rs300,000 as protection money. However, the complainant had agreed to pay them Rs150,000. Later, the complainant visited the office of the YouTube channel near Hassan Square, where he met with the accused who extended threats and coerced him to pay extortion money, it added.

ATC finds the duo guilty of demanding Rs300,000 protection money from owner of medical facility

According to the complainant, he had transferred Rs150,000 to the accused.

Hearing in reference against ex-PM adjourned

An accountability court exempted former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi from personal appearance on Tuesday in a reference pertaining to alleged illegal appointment of a managing director and a deputy managing director of the Pakistan State Oil (PSO).

The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) had filed the reference in 2020 against Mr Abbasi, former petroleum secretary Arshad Mirza and two others for allegedly misusing their authority in the appointments of Sheikh Imranul Haq as managing director and Yaqoob Sattar as deputy managing director (finance) of the PSO in violation of rules and regulations for appointments of chief executive officers in public sector enterprises.

During the hearing, the counsel for Mr Abbasi filed an application before the court to exempt him from personal appearance for one day on the ground of him being unwell. The court granted the application.

Meanwhile, the court adjourned the hearing due to the absence of Mr Abbasi until Feb 17.

The NAB cases have been restored against public office holders after the Supreme Court struck down amendments that were made into accountability laws.

Published in Dawn, January 17th, 2024