LAHORE: Mr Mohammad Haneef Ramay, a Senator and former Chief Minister of the Punjab, has been sentenced to imprisonment for four and a half years and a fine of Rs 50,000 or in default to undergo further imprisonment for six months. The sentence was passed by the Special Tribunal … under the Defence of Pakistan Rules.

The court has found that a speech made by Mr Haneef Ramay in March last had actually produced and was likely to produce the following effects (1) to prejudice Pakistan’s relations with certain other powers, namely, China, Iran, Russia, India and Afghanistan, (2) to cause disaffection among the members of the armed forces, (3) to bring into hatred or contempt or to excite disaffection towards the Government established by law in Pakistan, (4) to bring into hatred or contempt or excite disaffection towards the Armed Forces, (5) to promote feelings of enmity and hatred between different classes of citizens, and (6) to cause fear or alarm to the public or to any section of the public. … The Tribunal … [said that foreign affairs] … is ... too complicated to discuss in undiplomatic language before the learned much less the laymen. — News agencies

Published in Dawn, September 22nd, 2026