LAHORE: An anti-terrorism court on Saturday issued non-bailable arrest warrants for former information minister and senior PML-N leader Marriyum Aurangzeb in a terror case registered against her last year.

Neither Ms Aurangzeb nor her lawyer appeared before the court as Judge Abher Gul Khan resumed the hearing of the case.

At the previous hearing, the judge had issued bailable arrest warrants for Ms Aurangzeb and ex-MNA Javed Latif, who is also a nominated suspect in the case.

Judge Abher Gul Khan inquired about the whereabouts of the suspects and was informed Mr Latif had appeared, while Ms Aurangzeb had not.

PML-N leaders face case for ‘using religion to spread hatred’

Consequently, the judge issued non-bailable arrest warrants for the former information minister and directed all suspects named in the case to appear before the court on Dec 9.

The judge cancelled the arrest warrants of Mr Latif, and the former MNA also filed his acquittal application.

Earlier, in September, the court rejected a police report seeking the cancellation of the FIR against the PML-N leaders and summoned them.

The case was registered against senior PML-N leaders Ms Aurangzeb and Mr Latif in Lahore on Sep 19, 2022 for allegedly “using religion to instill and spread hatred” against PTI chief and former prime minister Imran Khan.

The FIR was filed by prayer leader at a local mosque situated within the jurisdiction of Lahore’s Green Town police station. In the FIR, the complainant said he came across a press conference of PML-N’s Mr Latif on Sept 14 in which he hurled disturbing accusations at Mr Khan in the name of religion.PTV managing director and controller programme had also been nominated in the case, as the complaint said the presser was shown on PTV. The complainant said Mr Latif accused the PTI chief of “attacking the basic principles of Islam” by “supporting” the Ahmediyya community during his tenure.

Later the same day, PTI leaders had lambasted the then coalition government — particularly the PML-N — for “using religion to spread hatred” against Mr Khan.

According to FIR, the complainant said the PTI chairman was an ardent follower of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) and a patriotic Pakistani who was recognised the world over for his welfare works. He said

Mr Khan also spearheaded efforts for the inclusion of content related to the Seerat-un-Nabi (PBUH) in syllabus at primary school levels.

“In his press conference, Mr Latif declared Imran as non-Muslim and he deliberately used these words to incite his followers and create a law and order situation,” the complaint said. The FIR said Mr Latif made the controversial remarks at the behest of the party leadership as well as Ms Aurangzeb in order to spread religious hatred against Mr Khan.

The complainant had said he wat­ched another presser by Mr La­­tif a day later wherein he insisted that he stood by his earlier statement.

Published in Dawn, November 26th, 2023