LAHORE: A sessions court on Saturday reserved its verdict on a plea seeking sedition charges against Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) chief Khadim Hussain Rizvi and others for passing derogatory remarks against the judiciary, Pakistani military and other state institutions.
Abdullah Malik, the petitioner, stated that the station house officer (SHO) Civil Lines police station in Lahore had failed to file an FIR [First Information Report] against Rizvi and other TLP leaders after they incited people to violence and staged a mutiny against the writ of the state, in aftermath of the Supreme Court’s acquittal of Aasia Bibi in blasphemy charges.
Meanwhile, in its reply to the court, Civil Lines police told the court that an FIR was already registered against the TLP chief under Sections 291, 290, 186, 353, 427 and 188 of the Pakistan Penal Code as well as Section 16 of the Maintenance of Public Order.
Upon this, the petitioner’s lawyer insisted that sedition charges should also be included in the FIR.
Additional Sessions Judge Rai Mohammad Kharal, after the conclusion of arguments, reserved the verdict on the petition.
