LAHORE: A judicial ma--g---istrate on Saturday indic-ted retired Capt Muhammad Safdar, son-in-law of former prime minister Nawaz Shar--if, in a hate speech case.

       Safdar along with his cou-nsel appe-a-red before the magistrate at district courts. The prosecution submitted its charge sheet before the court and Safdar plea-ded not guilty.

       At this the magistrate dir-ected the prosecution to pro-duce its witnesses on June 10.

       Islampura police had registered the case and arre-s-ted Safdar the night Mr Sha-rif 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 conten-ded that police acted with mala fide intention as they had initially lodged the FIR under Section 16, Mainte-n-a-nce of Public Order Ordi-n-a-nce and later inserted Sec-tions 124 and 506 of the Pak-istan 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 Guj-ranwala in a case of sedition and interference with the government.

       Published in Dawn, June 5th, 2022