Former Human Rights Minister and PTI leader Shireen Mazari has rejected the accusations leveled against PTI by veteran journalist Hamid Mir.
Senior journalist Imran Riaz Khan’s arrest has caused a storm in Pakistan. The majority of the public and members of the journalistic community have condemned the arrest. PTI leaders have also called Imran Riaz’s arrest a fascist move by the incumbent government.
Important to note that Imran Riaz Khan has been extremely critical of the PML-N-led government. In many of his vlogs, he has been “exposing” the government and lashing out at the state institutions as well.
Read more: IHC discards journalist Imran Riaz Khan’s petition against arrest
His arrest is being termed as an attempt to suppress freedom of speech since he has been portraying the wider public sentiment through his journalism. PTI leaders, including Chairman and former premier Imran Khan, have condemned the arrest. However, Hamid Mir has claimed that it was the PTI government that brought the law against criticizing Pakistan Army.
“Federal Cabinet headed by Imran Khan unanimously approved a law of five years imprisonment for criticizing Army and Judiciary. Approval was given in February 2022. They wanted to use the law against opponents but…” Hamid Mir tweeted while sharing a news report on the PTI government approving amendments in the Electronic Crimes Prevention Act.
Federal cabinet headed by @ImranKhanPTI unanimously approved a law of five years imprisonment for criticising Army and Judiciary. Approval was given in February 2022. They wanted to use the law against opponents but…… https://t.co/7xtf9dJMB4
— Hamid Mir حامد میر (@HamidMirPAK) July 6, 2022
PTI hits back
Hamid Mir’s allegation did not go unnoticed. Shireen Mazari took to Twitter to reject his allegations, calling them “incorrect”. In a series of retweets, the PTI leader explained that the cabinet rejected the reform.
“Absolutely incorrect. Farogh [former Law Minister] had tried to introduce this clause as part of the criminal law reforms but the cabinet rejected it categorically. As a result, he failed to table the entire reforms bill in National Assembly. Absolutely no cabinet approval was given. In fact unanimously rejected,” Shireen Mazari tweeted.
Absolutely incorrect. Farogh had tried to introduce this clause as part of the criminal law reforms but cabinet rejected it categorically. As a result he failed to table the entire reforms bill in NA. Absolutely no cabinet approval was given. In fact unanimously rejected. https://t.co/i8jW6u4xG3
— Shireen Mazari (@ShireenMazari1) July 6, 2022
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“You are referring to Amjad’s private member bill which the committee passed but we did not approve in the National Assembly. In fact, it never got placed in National Assembly for approval because there was no government support for it. This has nothing to do with the cabinet. I was referring to Farogh’s add in criminal law reform bill where he added a similar clause but the cabinet rejected that clause and as I pointed out that bill never got tabled by the government in the National Assembly. Private member bills even by government party members do not go through cabinet,” she added.
where he added a similar clause but cabinet rejected that clause and as I pointed out that bill them never got tabled by govt in NA. Private mbr bills even by govt party mbrs do not go thru cabinet.
— Shireen Mazari (@ShireenMazari1) July 6, 2022