Hate Speech case: Capt Safdar released from jail
Muhamamd Safdar granted bail over surety bond worth Rs0.2 million in hate speeches case.
LAHORE (Dunya News) – Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Captain (retd) Muhamamd Safdar has been released from jail after Lahore sessions court granted him bail in provocative speeches case.
The release of Captain (retd) Muhammad Safdar was put into process after the rubric was released.
Oct 30: Bail granted to Captain (retd) Safdar
Earlier today, a local court in Lahore has granted bail to Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Captain (retd) Muhamamd Safdar over surety bond worth Rs0.2 million in hate speeches case.
While announcing the reserved verdict, additional session judge Tajammul Shahzad has directed to release Captain (r) Safdar on bail.
The petition stated that PML-N leader was subjected to political revenge as talking about arranging anti-government movement is democratic right of all opposition parties.
Captain (retd) Safdar was targeted for being ex-prime minister (PM) Nawaz Sharif’s son-in-law, the plea added.
Oct 29: The court heard bail plea and prosecution petitions
The local court heard two different petitions today regarding bail plea and prosecution of Captain (retd) Safdar in Lahore. PML-N leader’s lawyer took a stand that the case has been registered against his client on political basis.
The lawyer pointed out that the statement on which Captain Safdar was arrested should also include cases against members of the ruling party.
PML-N leader’s lawyer opposed the request for physical remand instead of judicial remand and declared that the case was baseless and should be dismissed.
Public prosecutors opposed the application bail, stating the provisions of the cases were unwarranted. The government lawyer requested for the physical remand of Captain (retd) Safdar for investigation.
Oct 26: The court rejects Captain (retd) Safdar‘s bail plea
The court rejected the bail plea filed by the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Captain (R) Safdar in the anti-government speech case.
Judicial Magistrate Salman Asif of the district court heard the petition of the PML-N vice-president Maryam Nawaz’s husband.
During the hearing, the party’s lawyer Farhad Ali Shah took the stand that the police do not have the authority to register the case. Shah stated that even if a provocative statement was given, the notification would have to be written as per law whereas Captain Safdar was not notified about it.
The lawyer continued saying that his client was arrested in a false lawsuit to prevent him from following his wife’s cases.
After the statements of defendant’s lawyer, the court reserved its verdict, whereas District Public Prosecutor Rai Mushtaq did not appear in the court.
Advocate Shah has announced to challenge the verdict in District and Sessions Courts.
The court, ruling the petition, dismissed the bail appeal of the PML-N leader who was arrested over provocative speech against state agencies on October 22 near Ravi Toll Plaza.
Oct 22: Police seek PML-N leader‘s physical remand
The court rejected the police’s request for physical remand of Captain (R) Safdar, and granted judicial remand instead.
During the hearing, the public prosecutor argued that Captain (R) Safdar was arrested by police in connection with serious allegations of provocative speech.
The government lawyer presented the speech of Captain (R) Safdar to the court. The government lawyer stated that Captain (R) Safdar’s audio and video test is to be conducted, so that’s why a 14-day physical remand should be granted.
PML-N leader’s lawyer, Syed Farhad Ali Shah, said no one could be arrested on their intentions. Before implementing Section 16, the directive of the government is necessary, and the government has not made any notification regarding Captain (R) Safdar’s supervision.
He continued saying that the deputy commissioner can order a written inquiry, but no written order has been issued. "My client has nothing to do with a banned organization. They have been arrested only on political grounds". “Even If accused on a video issue, the police still do not have the authority to arrest him,” he stated.
PML-N leader expressed that he casually said a thing which a friend of his recorded and uploaded on the internet. “I was kept in detention for 24 hours while the FIR was registered in the morning”, he added.
OCt 21: Captain (retd) Safdar arrested by Punjab police
The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) said that retired captain Muhammad Safdar, son-in-law of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, was arrested by Punjab police in Lahore.
Police had registered a case against him on Oct 11 for his provocative speeches against government and state institutions.
