An anti-terrorism court on Tuesday sent Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) chief Khadim Rizvi and patron-in-chief Pir Afzal Qadri along with four others to prison on a 14-day judicial remand. The court heard a case related to nationwide protests and hate speeches against state institutions following the acquittal of blasphemy accused Aasia Bibi by Supreme Court. A huge number of TLP workers gathered outside the court. Strict security measures were made in and outside the court while extra personnel were deployed to deal with any unavoidable situation. The accused – Rizvi, Qadri, Allama Aijaz Ashrafi and Allama Farooqul Hassan – have been charged with fuelling countrywide protests during which they delivered hate speeches targeting state institutions. They have been also accused of inciting people to damage public and private property during the protests. Several parts of the country witnessed severe disruption on October 30, 2018, as enraged protesters blocked roads and forced markets to shut down. Protesters resorted to arson and vandalism in many parts of the country and damaged private and public properties in various incidents.
Published in Daily Times, January 23rd 2019.
