LAHORE
Prominent hardline commentator and self-styled ‘Defense Analyst’ Zaid Hamid has been sentenced for eight years and 1,200 lashes for criticizing Saudi government, according to circles close to Mr. Hamid and in touch with recent developments in his case.
Mr. Hamid was detained by Saudi authorities during his private visit to the Kingdom. Reports suggest that he made speeches against the Saudi government at a function two weeks ago and was arrested for lashing out against Arabs.
After being reported by several Pakistani websites, the news spread like wild fire on Pakistani social media stirring a highly charged debate between his zealous supporters and foes .
However, a confirmation from Pakistani embassy in Riydah couldn’t been received.
Earlier, Hamid was arrested during a private visit to the Kingdom with his wife. He was apparently taken into custody after making speeches against the Saudi government.
“Our embassy in Riyadh has informed us that Mr Zaid Hamid was arrested about two weeks ago. Since then, the embassy has been working with the local authorities to get consular access,” Foreign Office spokesperson Qazi Khalilullah told a news briefing in Islamabad on Thursday.
“Due to the efforts of the embassy, his wife was able to talk to him. Again, due to the efforts of the embassy, his wife will be able to meet with him on 30 June,” he said without giving further details.
In 2013, a former aide who left Hamid’s organisation accused him of being on the payrolls of the Inter-Services Intelligence agency to wage psychological operations against those opposed to the Pakistani security establishment.
Syed Zaid Zaman Hamid is a political commentator and defence analyst in Pakistan. He appears on different TV talk shows and regularly subjects Indian spy Agency Research Analysis Wing (RAW) for fomenting violence and sponsoring terrorism in Pakistan.
A number of Pakistani journalists, civil society members, writers and Islamic scholars have criticized Hamid and described his views on politics and security as “conspiracy theories”.
Article was originally found in Daily Pakistan.
I wonder if he will now support the right to free speech?
@Editor, do some research, his name is Zaid Hamid, not "Zahid Hamid".
Well his original name is Zahid Zaman Hamid
What did he say about Saudi government, where did he say it? Details please.
Imprisoned Dissidents are not necessarily always right. They may be a mixture of right or wrong or to either extreme, just as the Saudi government my be. We would need further information as to what was said, before we make up our own minds
Who on earth survives 1200 lashes
Can PaK govt rescue him? Send commando to fly him home?
I thought he is one-man army all by himself
Unfortunate He was worst Critics of India so people in India use to watch him eagerly.he is a house hold name.People in India are not happy that he is arrested people in India are wondering weather he would able to survive 1200 lashes.We indian wish him well.
1200 lashes are not given at once lol , they are divided in segments according to whtever the court has decreed , for example, to the intense of his crime , 30 each day until the number 1200
This is the real face of islamic states. If he was on payroll of ISI he would not be arreated. By the way talking in favour of its country’s millitary is tge right thing he did. These evil so called hub of islam has no human or basic rights for Muslims and thus is the evidence. They cannot arrest BBC or CNN anchors who criticise these islamic states on daily basis.
These king are only power and wealth hungry extremely corrupt inhuman who are puppets of western powers.
hes a true muslim and patriotic pakistan who spoke his mind , only a true muslim can speak against them on their own land regardless of the of any fear…
do we have pakistani politician or a RAT who would dare speaking a single word against their pay masters even in pakistan , yet we all know their views on pakistanis… I think its about time lessons are learned and stand up to support Zaid hamid.
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Uske ghar der hai andher nahin…Its only India Where zakir naik can abuse India, govt and other religions and roam free. As all Pakistanis believe that hey are Arabs, they should not complain against Arabs. They should at least support their own law . I hope now they should not claim that theyare different from Arabs
IT is soo bad and sad that saudi govis going to give him lashes he wont survive after all why he was giving speechis that is not pak to sit on a channel and to say rubbish after all its kingdom and there is a law if they leave people what ever they want to it would be 2 pak its holy land we should not do any thing against the saudia law
Saudi Arabia is not a democratic country. So you can expect anything from them. Saudi are using Islam only that one benefit to them.
if he was undesirable person why the Saudi government give him a visa to come to Saudi Arab.
What i understand government is behind this whole drama. people think this is beyond your imagination
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If Pakistani government want they can bring him back , but they don’t like to help him . Saudi Arabia is the most Holy Land ruled by most unholy people.
Normally with regard to foreigners, they will be declared person non grata and deported for this type of crimes. If the crime is some thing like theft, rape or murder- the punishment will be there it self.
I suspect that pakistan govt might have given their consent to give punishment to him in Saudi directly as they cannot control him in Pakistan.
Even now, if pakistan wants, they can bring him back. But they do not want it seems.
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