RAWALPINDI: The police have registered a case against a known journalist on allegations of attributing “disrespectful” statements “not based on facts” about Islam to PTI chairperson Imran Khan.

Chaudhry Nasir Qayyum, a cable operator, said in the FIR registered with the RA Bazar police under Section 295-A (deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religious beliefs) and Section 500 (punishment for defamation) of Pakistan Penal Code.

The complainant said he was watching social media in his office on Aug 24, when he saw a video in which one man explained why he “hates” Imran Khan and reasons of him going against the former prime minister.

The FIR mentioned statements which, according to the complainant, “disrespected” Islam, according to a Dawn.com report.

The complainant said that journalist Waqar Satti attributed these statements to Imran Khan. He added that he had never heard any Muslim making such remarks and “linking these words and remarks to former prime minister Imran Khan is not based on facts”.

Imran Khan did not mention any such words […] mentioned by the journalist in his tweet — in any of his speeches, the FIR quoted him as saying.

In the FIR, he said the journalist’s action has hurt his religious sentiments as well as thousands of other Muslims.

The complainant alleged that the journalist had done injustice, and sought legal action against him on the basis of these accusations.

When contacted, Mr Satti said that whatever he had posted on social media was based on Imran Khan’s reported statements. However, he said, despite this, he had already deleted the controversial post.

Meanwhile, Pakistan Peoples Party chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari condemned the Punjab government for registering the case against the journalist.

In a statement, he said an example of filing cases against journalists due to fear of criticism is not found in any civilised society.

Putting the safety of the journalist’s life at stake just to prevent criticism is not the tradition of a democratic society, he said.

The PPP leader called upon the Punjab government to withdraw the baseless case against the journalist.

Published in Dawn, August 29th, 2022