A case of terrorism was recorded on Monday against the Minister of Information Marriyum Aurangzeb and the high leader of the PML-N Javed Latif in Lahore, for allegedly “using religion to incite and spread hatred” against the head of the PTI and former prime minister Imran Khan.
The first briefing report (FIR) was presented by a citizen – an imam of a local mosque – at the Green Town police station in the provincial capital. FIR was filed under Section 9 (punishment for acts direct or likely to incite sectarian hatred) and 11X-3 (responsibility for causing civil unrest).
In the case, the managing director of Pakistani television Sohail Khan and the control program Rashid Baig was also appointed. According to the indictment, the press conference was broadcast on national television. According to FIR, a copy of which was tweeted by Punjab’s Interior Minister Colonel Muhammad Hashim, the complainant claimed to have met with a press conference of PML-N’s Latif on Sept. 14 in which he launched troubling allegations against Imran in the name of religion.
Latif had accused the head of the PTI of “attacking the fundamental principles of Islam” by “supporting” the Ahmediyya community during his tenure. “When Imran established Naya Pakistan, Qadianis units became active in Karachi […] Imran did not give interviews to foreign media saying that the Qadianis would be granted religious freedom,” Latif said.
Later that same day, PTI leaders accused the coalition government – particularly the PML-N – of “using religion to spread hatred” against Imran. According to the FIR filed today, the complainant claimed that the PTI president was a faithful follower of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) and a patriotic Pakistani recognized worldwide for his social welfare work. He added that Imran has also taken the lead in including content related to Seerat-un-Nabi (PBSL) in the curricula at the primary school level.
“During his press conference, Latif declared Imran as non-Muslim and deliberately used these words to incite his followers and create a situation of law and order,” the indictment reads. He added that “extreme anger” was felt among the PTI chief’s followers and supporters over the PML-N leader’s derogatory comments.
FIR alleged that Latif made controversial comments on behalf of the party leadership and Aurangzeb to spread religious hatred against Imran.
The complainant claimed that he examined another Latif print the next day, in which he insisted on sticking to his previous statement. He called for action against the leaders of the PML-N and others named in the complaint under the law.
