Nawaz Sharif's son-in-law Safdar granted bail in hate speech case

Former Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's son-in-law Captain (retired) Muhammad Safdar has been granted bail on October 30 who was accused of spreading hate speech. Safdar was arrested on October 21 over alleged derogatory comments on the Pakistani Army Chief and the judges of the Pakistan Supreme Court. Mohammad Safdar was arrested on late Monday night near the Ravi Toll plaza, informed the Lahore Police. Safdar is a retired captain of the Pakistan Army who has been charged with Section 124-A of the Pakistan Penal Code which might lead to life imprisonment if the judges decide so. He reportedly made the hate speech against the state institutions on October 13.

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Lahore's session court-approved Safdar's bail plea and has asked him to submit a surety bond of PKR 2,00,000.

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Marriyum Aurangzeb defended Safdar

During his court appearance on October 13, the former PM's son-in-law reportedly targeted Army Chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa. The retired captain further alleged that PM Imran Khan’s government was installed only to secure extension and promotions. On the other hand, Pakistan Muslim League (N) spokesman Marriyum Aurangzeb has condemned Safdar’s arrest. He has alleged that the PM Imran Khan government is fascist and is victimising the Sharif family deliberately. 

“If someone should be arrested for hate speech that man is Imran Khan,” Marriyum said.

Nawaz Sharif's daughter and Safdar's wife Maryam Nawaz were in the custody of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) under money laundering charges. The former Prime Minister himself was in NAB custody over the same charges. He is also convicted in the Al-Azizia corruption case and serving seven-year imprisonment. A Pakistani court on Tuesday suspended the sentence of Nawaz Sharif for eight weeks, as his condition deteriorated after a drastic drop in his blood platelet count. Sharif was admitted to the Services Hospital on Monday night from Pakistan's anti-graft body's custody after his platelets dropped to a critically low level of 2,000.

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(With inputs from agencies)