Police arrest PTI activist for inciting violence against journalists

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published: 17 April 2022

A PTI activist was arrested in Peshawar for urging violence against journalists critical of Imran Khan. The arrest followed a viral video where he incited PTI workers to harm media personnel.

Summary

PESHAWAR—Police have arrested a political activist after he was seen in a viral video urging PTI workers to kill journalists and TV anchors critical of ousted PM Imran Khan.

Mustafa, a resident of Mardan, had uploaded a video message on social media inciting PTI workers to violence against journalists and TV commentators.

According to the video clip, he calls for killing journalists and TV anchors who speak against Khan and says such media persons should be hanged to death.

Khyber Union of Journalists (KhUJ), showing serious concern over the video, had filed a case against him.

President KhUJ Nasir Hussain took the stance that the accused had tried to incite people to violence, endangering the lives of journalists. Therefore, the police should take action against him. The union also asked media persons to take extra care in performing their duties and avoid unnecessary debates.

Reportedly, the police have booked the accused under Sections 506 and 153-A of the Pakistan Penal Code and Section 25 of the Telegraph Act over criminal intimidation and 'promoting enmity between different groups.'

Mustafa appeared in another video afterward, apologizing for his earlier outburst against journalists and TV anchors.

"I was not in my senses when I recorded it," he said while seeking forgiveness for the act and said he would not repeat that 'mistake.'