LAHORE: Pakistan’s Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Lahore ordered police to arrest Marriyum Aurangzeb, a leader of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), in connection with a hate speech case and present her in court on December 9.
The ATC Judge, Abher Gul Khan, issued the non-bailable arrest warrant after the former information minister failed to appear before the court.
The case involves charges of inciting hatred through a terrorism case filed against Aurangzeb, Mian Javed Latif, Sohail Khan (Managing Director of state-run Pakistan Television), and others.
They are accused of attempting to provoke animosity by using religious sentiments against Imran Khan, the Chairman of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). While the ATC judge previously canceled the non-bailable arrest warrant against Latif after his appearance, Aurangzeb remained absent.
Marriyum Aurangzeb Faces Arrest Warrant After Failure to Appear
Advocate Farhad Ali Shah, representing Javed Latif and Marriyum Aurangzeb, appeared before the court. During the hearing, Judge Abher Gul Khan inquired where is the Marriyum Aurangzeb. The court informed that Latif had appeared, but Aurangzeb had not.
Consequently, the judge issued a non-bailable arrest warrant for the former information minister, setting December 9 as the deadline for the prosecution to respond to Aurangzeb’s application seeking acquittal.
In her plea, Aurangzeb denied any involvement in alleged incitement during her speeches on talk shows. She distanced herself from the claims made against her, stating her innocence and requesting acquittal.
