Islamabad police on Monday arrested a former army general on allegations of engagement in “hate speech” against state institutions and provoking government employees against the administration.
Lieutenant General (retired) Amjad Shoaib was arrested from his residence by the Islamabad police under sections 153A (promoting enmity between different groups) and 505 (statements conducing to public mischief) of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC).
Accusations
Shoaib regularly features on Pakistani political talk shows.
Amjad Shoaib is accused of provoking state employees during a TV talk show last week in which he suggested Imran Khan “work out his strategy” as the ex-premier’s ‘fill prisons’ campaign (Jail Bharo Tehreek) was not achieving the desired results. Shoain said Khan should ask government employees to stop showing up at work, which according to him would force the government to reflect on its doings.
“Through this statement and analysis, General (retired) Amjad Shoaib provoked government employees and the opposition to stop discharging their official and legal duties,” the police report read.
“He meant to stir hate among government employees, and incite [them] to violence against the government in order to create chaos in the country.”
The police complaint said that the retired general’s remarks were “a well-thought conspiracy and planning to further weaken the country”.
Court granted 3-day remand
Following his arrest, the retired lieutenant general was presented in the court of Judicial Magistrate Abbas Shah where Ramna police station’s investigation officer (IO) and Prosecutor Adnan were also present.
On Monday afternoon, an Islamabad district and sessions court granted the police a three-day remand of defense analyst Shoaib, following his arrest.
The retired general’s legal team comprised Advocate Mudassir Khalid Abbasi, Islamabad Bar Association President Advocate Qaiser Imam, and Advocate Riyasat Ali Azad.
Shoaib’s counsel Abbasi opposed the grant of the physical remand and requested for his client to be discharged from the case. “The court has to see whether Lt-Gen (R) Shoaib even committed a crime or not. If the magistrate thinks the suspect has not committed any offense, then [Lt-Gen (R) Shoaib] can be discharged from the case.”
He argued that the sections registered in the case were “not even applicable” as Lt-Gen (R) Shoaib had “only given an example regarding a specific situation”.
Abbasi said his client’s statement was “constructive criticism” and “The case has been filed on political bases only.”
Amjad Shoaib will be presented before the court on March 2.