Courts moved in five cities for FIRs against private channels
LAHORE: While Vehari district and sessions judge ordered the local police to register a case against various private TV channels for broadcasting blasphemous content again and again last month, applications have been filed in other cities including Sahiwal, Kasur, Khushab, Bahawalpur also for the purpose.
VEHARI: On the orders of district and sessions judge, the city police station registered an FIR No 251/14 under the PPC 298/A (blasphemy law) against the managements and anchorpersons of five private TV channels.
Those booked included: Muhammad Salman Iqbal, chief executive of ARY News, anchorperson Mubasher Lucman, ARY directors Haji Jan Muhammad, Muhammad Iqbal, Muhammad Mehboob, Anwar Maqsood and 40 to 50 unknown officials of the channel.
Also, Mian Amir Mehmood, chief executive, Dunya News, Samaa TV channel’s Naveed Siddiqui and other officials, Syed Sarfraz Hussain Shah of Abb Takk TV channel and other officials, Sultan Ali Lakhani of Express News TV channel and other officials, Amjad Sabri Qawwal and Zaki Zaman Qawwal were also booked on the charges of broadcasting blasphemous programme on their TV channels.
According to the FIR, complainant Muhammad Abdullah, son of Muhammad Yousaf, stated that he contested elections for a National Assembly seat from NA-169 constituency in the general elections. He said Geo TV channel showed a programme on May 14 in a way that was blasphemous. During the next three days, on May 14, 15, and 16, he watched the same footage on ARY TV again and again, for about 60 times. Samaa TV channel also showed that footage, Express News broadcast that footage on May 15 for two times, Abb Takk News channel showed that footage on May 15-16 for about 16 times, and Dunya News showed that footage for two times on May 15.
Moreover, ARY News broadcast the same manqabat on July 29, 2013, Samaa TV channel on February 5, 2014, Express News broadcast that on January 2, 2014 before Geo News showed that content, and every time the same manqabat was presented.
The complainant said the presentation of the manqabat in a blasphemous way hurt religious sentiments of all Muslims in Pakistan. He said these channels committed blasphemy and therefore a case must be registered against them. The court ordered the police to register an FIR in this regard.
SAHIWAL: Chaudhry Sajjad Advocate, Muhammad Attique, Rana Maqbool Advocate have filed an application in the court of district and sessions judge, seeking registration of cases against Muhammad Salman Iqbal, chief executive of ARY News, anchorperson Mubasher Lucman, ARY directors Haji Jan Muhammad, Muhammad Iqbal, Muhammad Mehboob, Anwar Maqsood, Mian Amir Mehmood, chief executive, Dunya News, Samaa TV channel’s Naveed Siddiqui, Syed Sarfraz Hussain Shah of Abb Takk TV channel, Sultan Ali Lakhani of Express News TV channel on the charges of broadcasting blasphemous programme on their TV channels.
KASUR: A citizen Abid Ali Bukhari filed an application in the district and sessions judge for registration of cases against the managements and other persons concerned for broadcasting blasphemous content. The court has sought a report from the Kasur DPO in 10 days.
FAISALABAD: An application was submitted to a Faisalabad court to file cases against ARY Chief Executive Sulman Iqbal, host Nida Yasser, Amjad Sabri Qawwal and singer Naeem Abbas Rufi under Section 295-A, 295-C, 298 and 298-A.
Additional District and Sessions Judge Shahid Basheer summoned the Kotwali SHO for June 11 on a petition filed by Farah Naz Gul Advocate.
KHUSHAB: District and Sessions Judge Ahmed Nawaz referred Malik Khuda Bukhsh’s petition for registration of a blasphemy case against Sulman Iqbal, Abb Takk News’ Syed Sarfraz Hussain Shah and others to Additional District and Sessions Judge Shakir Hassan. He will take up the case on June 4.
BAHAWALPUR: A court on a petition ordered police to proceed against ARY, Express and other channels under 22-A.
Advocate Syed Lal Shah Bokhari in a petition to the court of additional district and sessions judge Bahawalpur has made Baghdadul Jadeed Police Station SHO, ARY TV Chief Executive Salman Iqbal, Mubasher Lucman, Haji Jan Muhammad, Muhammad Iqbal, Muhammad Mehboob, Anwar Maqsood and officials ARY, Dunya News Chief Executive Mian Amir Mehmood, Samaa TV CEO Naveed Siddiqui, Syed Sarfraz Hussain Shah of Abb Takk News and Express News CEO Syed Sultan Ali Lakhani respondents. The petition said Geo TV has rendered an unconditional apology in connection with an unintentional mistake made in a morning show.
The particular objectionable footage was also aired repeatedly by ARY News and other channels that hurt the feelings of Muslims. The petitioner also presented to court the CD record of ARY News, Express News and other channels as proof. Meanwhile, in Arifwala, Fatehpur and Karor Lal Aisan cases were registered against Geo TV for airing controversial programme in its morning show. In Arifwala, City Police Station on the orders of additional sessions judge Awais Ashraf Gilani registered a case against Dr Shaista Wahidi, actress Veena Malik, Asad Bashir Khattak and the Qawwal team under Section 295-A and 298-A. In Rawalpindi, additional district and sessions judge Tahir Khan Niazi on an application of advocate Raja Iftikhar Hussain ordered Civil Lines Police Station to register a case against Geo.
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