The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Wednesday dismissed federal government’s petition against the acquittal of former senator Faisal Raza Abidi in contempt of court case pertaining to the use of hate speech against the Supreme Court.
A two-member bench headed by IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah announced the verdict after deliberating the arguments from both sides presented by the prosecution and the defence lawyer. In December 2018, Abidi was arrested from the apex court premises on charges of using derogatory and inappropriate language against former chief justice Mian Saqib Nisar during an interview at a local web channel.
However, in May 2019, an anti-terrorism court (ATC) had acquitted Abidi in the hate speech case.
The former senator was released from Adiala Jail after a three-member bench of the top court accepted his unconditional apology and discharged a contempt notice. However, the proceeding in the ATC against Abidi remained unaffected. Judge Shahrukh Arjumand after hearing arguments acquitted the ex-PPP senator and two co-accused, Hans Masroor and Ahsan Saleem, from the charges.
