LAHORE: A judicial ma­­g­­­istrate on Saturday indic­ted retired Capt Muhammad Safdar, son-in-law of former prime minister Nawaz Shar­­if, in a hate speech case.

Safdar along with his cou­nsel appe­a­red before the magistrate at district courts. The prosecution submitted its charge sheet before the court and Safdar plea­ded not guilty.

At this the magistrate dir­ected the prosecution to pro­duce its witnesses on June 10.

Islampura police had registered the case and arre­s­ted Safdar the night Mr Sha­rif was admitted to Services Hospital from NAB’s custody in 2019.

Police alleged that Safdar had incited people against the government and state institutions.

Safdar’s counsel conten­ded that police acted with mala fide intention as they had initially lodged the FIR under Section 16, Mainte­n­a­nce of Public Order Ordi­n­a­nce and later inserted Sec­tions 124 and 506 of the Pak­istan Penal Code as well.

He said the case against Safdar was nothing but a result of political victimisation. He asked the court to quash the case and acquit his client.

Meanwhile, media reports said Safdar and PML-N MPA Imran Khalid were also indicted by a court in Guj­ranwala in a case of sedition and interference with the government.

Published in Dawn, June 5th, 2022