Islamabad High Court (IHC) issued the detailed verdict of a case registered for making obscene pictures in front of Quaid-e-Azam’s portrait over two years ago.
Justice Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri issued a detailed decision to dismiss the case filed against Zulfiqar Sohail. The plaintiff Rashid Malik had registered a case against the petitioner at Koral police station on August 3, 2021.
The court ordered the police to take action against the plaintiff who filed a false case. It also ordered to submit the police record to the concerned court within seven days. The court directed the magistrate to complete the proceedings within 30 days and submit a compliance report.
DSP Legal and the investigating officer confirmed that the obscene photos did not go viral on social media, the court said The verdict said the SSP sought a report from Director Cyber Crime Wing on photos uploaded on social media.
The FIA sent a letter for details of Instagram accounts provided by Islamabad Police. It said social media site Instagram did not provide information on the lack of a mutual legal assistance agreement.
The judgement said according to the report, it is not possible to check any cyber activity without a web link. There is also no eyewitness or forensic evidence against the petitioner, it added.
Last month, the Islamabad High Court dismissed the case of an immoral photo shoot that took place in front of the portrait of the Quaid-e-Azam on the Expressway.
While announcing the decision, Justice Tariq Mahmood Jahangiri ordered action to be taken against the plaintiff who filed the case. The controversial photo shoot took place two years ago and received severe criticism on social media and sparked outrage.
The case was registered on the complaint of a citizen named Rashid Malik. The FIR stated that the duo had taken pictures in revealing dresses in front of the portrait of the country’s founder Quaid-e-Azam and made them viral on social media.
Islamabad Police registered a case at the Koral police station on August 3, 2021, and arrested the accused on August 24. An application for the dismissal of the case was filed on behalf of the accused, which the court granted, resulting in the case being dismissed.
The photoshoot featured a couple posing in front of Quaid-e-Azam’s portrait in non-traditional attire which has considered obscene by social tradition.
Pakistani social media users were divided in their opinions, with some demanding action against the couple while others argued it was a matter of freedom of expression.
Senior journalist Ansar Abbasi had also urged the DC Islamabad to arrest the couple for spreading obscenity. The deputy commissioner had urged people to inform authorities about information about the couple.
The couple who were members of the band Mystical Shayari were compelled to delete their Instagram posts after receiving threatening messages.
