Pakistani renowned Multimedia journalist, Makhdoom Muhammad Shahab-ud-din, has been granted relief from harassment and intimidation by police officials, following a writ petition filed under Article 199 of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, 1973. The petition stated that police officials had threatened to arrest Shahab-ud-din, involved him in false criminal cases, and ruin his life, due to his vocal criticism of their actions.
Shahab-ud-din, who is a columnist and activist, currently works as a program anchor on Bol Network and hosts a prime-time TV show called “AB BAT HO GI”. He has previously worked as an anchor person for several Pakistani news channels, including Hum News and PTV News in 2019. In recognition of his work, he received the Agahi Award for his article about child pornography in Pakistan.
The petitioner is also a political commentator on a YouTube channel with over one million subscribers. Shahab-ud-din had previously raised his voice and participated in different programs in favor of Arshad Sharif, a famous journalist who was murdered, and Chairman PTI Imran Khan, who was the victim of an assassination attempt. When political leaders of the PTI were arrested, Shahab-ud-din condemned their illegal arrest, and when famous anchor person Imran Riaz Khan was arrested, Shahab-ud-din protested against his illegal detention.
According to the writ petition, the respondents, who are police officials, have become annoyed with the petitioner and started causing harassment to him and his family. They had extended telephonic threats to the petitioner, stating that they would arrest him and involve him in false criminal cases. Shahab-ud-din and his family were under threat and were unable to lead their normal lives due to the respondents’ actions.
The petitioner argued that the respondents’ actions were a clear violation of the law and a cognizable offense defined in the Pakistan Penal Code. Under the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, 1973, the right to life, liberty, and property is protected, and no one should be discriminated against in any manner. Article 4 of the Constitution also guarantees the right of individuals to be dealt with in accordance with the law and to enjoy the protection of the law.
The petitioner had no other adequate, efficacious, and speedy remedy except to invoke the extraordinary constitutional jurisdiction of the court. The court agreed with the petitioner’s argument and directed the respondents to remain within the four corners of the law and not to cause any sort of harassment to the petitioner and his family members, if they are not required in any criminal case. The court’s decision offers relief to Shahab-ud-din and his family, allowing them to resume their normal lives without fear of harassment or intimidation by police officials.
