Rights campaigner calls for trial of TLP leaders or withdrawal of treason case against journalist, ex-prime ministers

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published: 3 November 2018

Aftab Alam has called for the withdrawal of treason charges against journalist Cyril Almeida and former Prime Ministers. This follows the release of TLP leaders who incited violence without facing consequences.

Summary

ISLAMABAD – Aftab Alam, a rights campaigner, and media researcher has called for the treason case against journalist Cyril Almeida (pictured) and two ex-prime ministers withdrawn after the leaders of Tehreek-e-Labaik Pakistan (TLP) were let off without any punishment.

The TLP leaders who led a three-day countrywide protest following the Supreme Court judgment in Aasia Bibi’s case called for a mutiny in the army and killing of judges who delivered the verdict.

The Lahore High Court is hearing a petition filed by a civil society member Amina Malik who is seeking action against former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif under treason charges for allegedly defaming state institutions through an interview he gave to Almeida.

Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, another ex-prime minister is also a respondent in the case being heard by a three-member bench comprising Justices Syed Mazhar Ali Akbar Naqvi, Atir Mahmood, and Chaudhry Masood Jahangir.

But Aftab Alam, whose Twitter handle says he is also a lawyer and law researcher tweeted: “Now treason case against @cyalm, #NS & @SKhaqanAbbasi as well as #contempt of court cases/punishments against all politicians should be withdrawn! Or, all those who ‘abused’ the ‘institutions’ in past three days must be tried. #justice.”