Why pro-PTM protesters were booked for sedition

[ghazi52]

Why pro-PTM protesters were booked for sedition, asks IHC

February 02, 2020

Islamabad High Court (IHC) Chief Justice Athar Minallah on Saturday sought explanation from the capital police and the district administration for invoking offence of sedition against those who were protesting against the arrest of Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM) leader Manzoor Pashteen. — AFP/File






ISLAMABAD: Islamabad High Court (IHC) Chief Justice Athar Minallah on Saturday sought explanation from the capital police and the district administration for invoking offence of sedition against those who were protesting against the arrest of Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM) leader Manzoor Pashteen.

The court summoned the deputy commissioner and the inspector general of Islamabad police on a petition seeking post-arrest bail of 23 activists of the PTM and Awami Workers Party (AWP).

Justice Minallah heard the bail plea in his chamber. Advocates Babar Sattar, Nisar Shah and Sikandar Naeem represented the detained activists.

The court ordered the DC and the IGP to produce the record related to the arrest of activists.

“Both will appear in person along with the record on Feb 3, 2020 at 10am and explain under what authority of law the offence of sedition has been included in the FIR and why the petitioners who are stated to have exercised their right of assembly in a peaceful manner may not be released on bail.”

The counsel for the petitioners — Ammar Rashid and others — contended before the chief justice that “the case has been registered against the petitioners on the basis of mala fide”.

He also questioned the order issued by the additional district and sessions court dismissing the post-arrest bail petitions of the detained activists, saying it was “arbitrary and not in consonance with the settled principles of law”. He said it was a serious miscarriage of justice and invoking offence of sedition against unarmed peaceful citizens was misuse of authority.

On Jan 30, additional district and sessions judge of Islamabad Mohammad Sohail declined to grant bail to detained activists, saying that prima facie this was a case of terrorism since during protest the protesters had chanted slogans against the government and the army.

It was mentioned in the first information report (FIR) that scores of protesters managed to escape from the spot, but the complainant and the police officials would identify them when they appeared before them.

Interestingly, the police did not invoke any section of the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA), 1997 in the FIR, but the judge in the concluding paragraph of his decision on the bail plea observed, “I have no hesitation to hold that it is a case in which Section 7 of the Anti Terrorism Act (ATA) is attracted by all force, hence, this court lacks jurisdiction to entertain and decide the ba

 

[airmarshal]

What the f*ck!! What is the issue with Pakistani courts?

 

[-blitzkrieg-]

There is evidence of Pashteens very close relative visiting Indian consulate in Kandahar. There is evidence of them getting huge funds which he never keeps check on..He has not said a word on Ghani's interference, he didnt welcome people who wanted to join his jalsa with Pakistan flag.. Also what they are promoting can create mutiny in Pakistan Army,Govt. and even courts itself.They dont know the seriousness of this..

 

[GHALIB]

Why pro-PTM protesters were booked for sedition, asks IHC

February 02, 2020

Islamabad High Court (IHC) Chief Justice Athar Minallah on Saturday sought explanation from the capital police and the district administration for invoking offence of sedition against those who were protesting against the arrest of Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM) leader Manzoor Pashteen. — AFP/File






ISLAMABAD: Islamabad High Court (IHC) Chief Justice Athar Minallah on Saturday sought explanation from the capital police and the district administration for invoking offence of sedition against those who were protesting against the arrest of Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM) leader Manzoor Pashteen.

The court summoned the deputy commissioner and the inspector general of Islamabad police on a petition seeking post-arrest bail of 23 activists of the PTM and Awami Workers Party (AWP).

Justice Minallah heard the bail plea in his chamber. Advocates Babar Sattar, Nisar Shah and Sikandar Naeem represented the detained activists.

The court ordered the DC and the IGP to produce the record related to the arrest of activists.

“Both will appear in person along with the record on Feb 3, 2020 at 10am and explain under what authority of law the offence of sedition has been included in the FIR and why the petitioners who are stated to have exercised their right of assembly in a peaceful manner may not be released on bail.”

The counsel for the petitioners — Ammar Rashid and others — contended before the chief justice that “the case has been registered against the petitioners on the basis of mala fide”.

He also questioned the order issued by the additional district and sessions court dismissing the post-arrest bail petitions of the detained activists, saying it was “arbitrary and not in consonance with the settled principles of law”. He said it was a serious miscarriage of justice and invoking offence of sedition against unarmed peaceful citizens was misuse of authority.

On Jan 30, additional district and sessions judge of Islamabad Mohammad Sohail declined to grant bail to detained activists, saying that prima facie this was a case of terrorism since during protest the protesters had chanted slogans against the government and the army.

It was mentioned in the first information report (FIR) that scores of protesters managed to escape from the spot, but the complainant and the police officials would identify them when they appeared before them.

Interestingly, the police did not invoke any section of the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA), 1997 in the FIR, but the judge in the concluding paragraph of his decision on the bail plea observed, “I have no hesitation to hold that it is a case in which Section 7 of the Anti Terrorism Act (ATA) is attracted by all force, hence, this court lacks jurisdiction to entertain and decide the ba

only courts can save citizens rights .

 

[-blitzkrieg-]

only courts can save citizens rights .

Right to what?

 

[GHALIB]

Right to what?

right to speak for their rights as citizen of a country .

 

[-blitzkrieg-]

right to speak for their rights as citizen of a country .

No-ones stopping them to speak..He was speaking freely for last 5 years..Only once evidence for other stuff starts coming in 'speaking for rights' becomes a victim-card.

 

[R Wing]

What the f*ck!! What is the issue with Pakistani courts?

Like any justice system, they demand evidence and proof of the charges.

Our agencies (civ and mil) need to up their game and have all that ready BEFORE they arrest them. It isn't even that hard to manufacture it (if it's done cleverly) by an intel agency. But we simply think that saying a few things deemed anti-State will suffice in a court of law --- it generally does not, because it's arbitrary.

There is evidence of Pashteens very close relative visiting Indian consulate in Kandahar. There is evidence of them getting huge funds which he never keeps check on..He has not said a word on Ghani's interference, he didnt welcome people who wanted to join his jalsa with Pakistan flag.. Also what they are promoting can create mutiny in Pakistan Army,Govt. and even courts itself.They dont know the seriousness of this..

Then the concerned quarters will provide all that and satisfy the court.

And I agree, it's very serious.

It can easily be battled on intellectual grounds --- but most of the people I've interacted with in Pakistan's IC lack the sophistication to do so. This is a high-level game with some of the best psychological minds (with PhDs in persuasion, influence, motivation, etc.) working at some of the world's best-funded institutions designing the movements and their arguments. A tank or artillery commander posted in intel for a few years has little chance of countering it. In a country where the ex DG ISPR was lauded as some kind of sophisticated psyops genius (to put it mildly, I strongly disagree --- and the pathetic film the ISPR produced under his command is proof of his tastes and way of thinking), we really are doomed UNLESS the govt wakes up and contracts the services of people who are, on a volunteer basis, already trying to battle this scourge.

 

[GHALIB]

Like any justice system, they demand evidence and proof of the charges.

Our agencies (civ and mil) need to up their game and have all that ready BEFORE they arrest them. It isn't even that hard to manufacture it (if it's done cleverly) by an intel agency. But we simply think that saying a few things deemed anti-State will suffice in a court of law --- it generally does not, because it's arbitrary.



Then the concerned quarters will provide all that and satisfy the court.

And I agree, it's very serious.

It can easily be battled on intellectual grounds --- but most of the people I've interacted with in Pakistan's IC lack the sophistication to do so. This is a high-level game with some of the best psychological minds (with PhDs in persuasion, influence, motivation, etc.) working at some of the world's best-funded institutions designing the movements and their arguments. A tank or artillery commander posted in intel for a few years has little chance of countering it. In a country where the ex DG ISPR was lauded as some kind of sophisticated psyops genius (to put it mildly, I strongly disagree --- and the pathetic film the ISPR produced under his command is proof of his tastes and way of thinking), we really are doomed UNLESS the govt wakes up and contracts the services of people who are, on a volunteer basis, already trying to battle this scourge.

well said .

 

[-blitzkrieg-]

Like any justice system, they demand evidence and proof of the charges.

Our agencies (civ and mil) need to up their game and have all that ready BEFORE they arrest them. It isn't even that hard to manufacture it (if it's done cleverly) by an intel agency. But we simply think that saying a few things deemed anti-State will suffice in a court of law --- it generally does not, because it's arbitrary.



Then the concerned quarters will provide all that and satisfy the court.

And I agree, it's very serious.

It can easily be battled on intellectual grounds --- but most of the people I've interacted with in Pakistan's IC lack the sophistication to do so. This is a high-level game with some of the best psychological minds (with PhDs in persuasion, influence, motivation, etc.) working at some of the world's best-funded institutions designing the movements and their arguments. A tank or artillery commander posted in intel for a few years has little chance of countering it. In a country where the ex DG ISPR was lauded as some kind of sophisticated psyops genius (to put it mildly, I strongly disagree --- and the pathetic film the ISPR produced under his command is proof of his tastes and way of thinking), we really are doomed UNLESS the govt wakes up and contracts the services of people who are, on a volunteer basis, already trying to battle this scourge.

Pakistan should up its game next-level with regards to development in ex-FATA.. Becoming part of KPK doesnt solve problems till integration happens at ground level.More importantly the locals get to hear about it..Flood it with Pakistan flag and prosecute anyone who desecrates its sanctity.

Those productions just show how incapable our film/drama industry professionals are. ISPR doesnt have much choice to go about here.

 

[GHALIB]

Pakistan should up its game next-level with regards to development in ex-FATA.. Becoming part of KPK doesnt solve problems till integration happens at ground level.More importantly the locals get to hear about it..Flood it with Pakistan flag and prosecute anyone who mishandles it.

Those productions just show how incapable our film/drama industry professionals are. ISPR doesnt have much choice to go about here.

infrastructure and economic developments helps in integration of people .

 

[R Wing]

Pakistan should up its game next-level with regards to development in ex-FATA.. Becoming part of KPK doesnt solve problems till integration happens at ground level.More importantly the locals get to hear about it..Flood it with Pakistan flag and prosecute anyone who mishandles it.

Those productions just show how incapable our film/drama industry professionals are. ISPR doesnt have much choice to go about here.

Please don't defend them where they are wrong. Better standards are available --- but selecting them requires better tastes and better brains.

Development in FATA is definitely happening (could happen faster for sure) but the geniuses managing optics/PR/narratives/info warfare aren't showcasing it properly.

 

[RescueRanger]

How many times are these retarded threads going to be opened? Ask yourself, why do most of the 'protestors' follow the NDS and either live outside Pakistan, are of Afghan origin or related to people of Afghan origin?

More that 62% of the retweets and mentions are by "BOTS".

 

[masterchief_mirza]

What the f*ck!! What is the issue with Pakistani courts?

No no. This is actually good. We should completely follow due process. Let the question be raised and the appropriate response delivered openly - that encouraging action against the army and government is encouraging terrorism, hence prosecutable under anti-terrorism laws.

No bail. Maximum sentence please. Just like any nation would do.

 

[RescueRanger]