ATC Acquits Faisal Raza Abidi In Contempt Case

Other accused in the case, including Ahsan Saleem and Hans Masroor were also acquitted.

Lahore (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News – 2nd May, 2019) An anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Islamabad on Thursday acquitted former Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Senator Faisal Raza Abidi in contempt of court case.

A hearing of the case pertaining to usage of inappropriate and derogatory language in an interview over a web tv by the former PPP Senator Faisal Raza Abidi against a former Chief Justice was held in the ATC on Thursday.

ATC judge Shahrukh Arjumand resumed the hearing whereas Abidi was present in the court.

Other accused in the case, including Ahsan Saleem and Hans Masroor were also acquitted.

In the previous hearing, the ATC had directed the prosecution for completion of evidences process as soon as possible to expedite the proceedings.

The prosecution had concluded the final arguments and also requested for producing evidence in the next date which the court had accepted and adjourned the hearing till May 2.

Main accused Faisal Raza Abidi and two co-accused Hans Masroor and Ahsan Saleem had already recorded their statement in the case.

Charges had already been framed against the former PPP Senator in the said case.

On December 17, 2018, the ATC had indicted the former Senator Faisal Raza Abidi in a case regarding using inappropriate and derogatory language in an interview over a web TV against the Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Saqib Nisar.

Abidi was arrested outside Supreme Court building in October by the Secretariat Police after registering First Information Report for using defamatory and insulting language against the chief justice and the judiciary in an interview.

The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) had booked Abidi under the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) and Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (Peca) 2016. According to the FIR registered against the former Senator, Abidi with criminal intent had used sarcastic, derogatory and defamatory language against the Chief Justice of Pakistan and was prima facie guilty of offences punishable under sections 10(a), 11 and 20 of Peca, read with sections 109 and 509 of the PPC.

Abidi is also facing other FIRs registered at the secretariat police station under PPC's sections 228, 500, 505(ii) and 34, along with the 7 ATA, in response to a complaint lodged by SC public relations Officer Shahid Hussain Kambyo for using threatening language and levelling allegations against government institutions and individuals holding the highest constitutional posts.