Pakistani Journalist Khawar Mehdi Rizvi granted bail | Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF)

Pakistan Press Foundation

Pakistani Journalist Khawar Mehdi Rizvi granted bail

Pakistani journalist Khawar Mehdi Rizvi was granted bail on March 27, by Anti-Terrorism Court in Quetta, province of Balochistan. Judge Mohammad Hashim Kakar approved the bail application and ordered his release on deposit of surety bond of Rs200,000 (about US$ 3,500). The journalist, along with seven other persons, was charged with making a fake video of Taliban activity in Pakistan. Khawar Mehdi Rizvi is expected to be released on Monday, March 29 after the completion of legal formalities, including deposit of surety bond.

State prosecutor Muzaffar Ahmad Mirza did not oppose the bail application, which was filed by defence lawyers, Habib Tahir and Arif Saeed.

Khawar Mehdi Rizvi was arrested on December 16, 2003, along with two French journalists Marc Epstein and Jean-Paul Guilloteau of the newsweekly L’Express. He was formally booked on January 24, on charges of sedition, conspiracy, and impersonation. The maximum penalty for the charges is life imprisonment. The French journalists were released on January 12 after pleading guilty to charges of visa violations.

Two other accused, Syed Allah Noor and Abdullah Shakir, were present in the court but did not file bail applications. The court issued non bailable warrant against five other accused who have who have been absconding.

The court fixed April 19, as next date of hearing in the case.
Source: PPF
Date:3/27/2004